Enduros Boost Holdsworth and IRWIN Crew

Heading into the PIRTEK Enduro Cup, Lee Holdsworth was 27th in the Championship, coming off the back of what he described as the worst event in his career, in terms of car speed.

Now after the three long distance events, the IRWIN Tools Mercedes-Benz ANG E 63 driver can’t wait to hit the track at Phillip Island this weekend and describes his car as close to one of the best he’s had in V8 Supercars, relative to handling.

Holdsworth wasn’t bullish enough to say a podium is on the cards for the final two events, to cap off what has turned into a strong second half of the season. But he definitely sees it as an achievable possibility.

“I think we’ve shown we had the potential to do it at Gold Coast and Sandown – so I think the potential is there, we just need to get everything right on the day,” the 30-year old told v8supercars.com.au.

“I think we’re finding more and more car speed and a better knowledge of the car every time we head out, so I don’t see why there wouldn’t be the potential to get a podium, especially going to Homebush – it’s been my most successful track, so it’d be really nice to finish on a high and especially with IRWIN departing at the end of the year.”

Holdsworth won at the concrete-lined grand finale in 2010 – but before heading there, the V8 Supercars will first tackle the newly resurfaced Phillip Island circuit this weekend.

The IRWIN racer predicts times below the 1min30s in qualifying, based on what Nick Percat achieved in the recent tyre ratification test conducted by V8 Supercars, to assess performance of the control Dunlop tyre on the new surface. Percat smashed the qualifying lap record during the test, which Craig Lowndes set back in 2000, a 1min32.0713.

“I’m really looking forward to getting onto the Phillip Island track especially with the new surface – it’s going to be pretty quick down there, I’m looking forward to getting out there and giving it a shot,” Holdsworth said.

“I think this car we’ve got at the moment is probably close to being one of the best cars that I’ve had in V8s, in terms of its handling.

“Obviously the engine is still something we’re working on. But a track like Phillip Island, I’m hoping won’t hurt us too much with engine – the engine’s fine once it gets up and goes. They seem to be fairly equal to the Holdens and Fords, but just that low-end power is where we lack. It is a fast flowing track so I don’t think that’ll hurt us too much.”

From here, Holdsworth is hoping to carry the momentum gathered during the PIRTEK Enduro Cup into the final two events so the team can feel confident about next year, “and have a decent crack at the top 10 or even top five in the Championship”.

A big change in perspective from someone who in September admitted he had become increasingly depressed about his racing in the early part of the season.

Paired with Craig Baird, Holdsworth finished the PIRTEK Enduro Cup – made up of prestigious events the Wilson Security Sandown 500, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 – fifth, behind the top four Championship contenders. His nearest Erebus Motorsport V8 teammate was Tim Slade (paired with Andrew Thompson for the first two events, David Brabham for the final) who finished 21st.

“Yeah, it was (exciting),” Holdsworth said of his enduro campaign.

“Especially after what the results were like earlier on in the year. It was a bit of a contrast – we went into the enduro events in 27th in the Championship, so I certainly wasn’t expecting to finish in the top five in the Enduro Cup. We found some really good car speed and fortunately we found some consistency as well, so it’s been a lot more enjoyable.”

While Slade was the top performer of the three Mercs earlier in the season, Holdsworth is now the front-runner in the points, sitting 20th with Slade 22nd and Maro Engel 28th.

Sandown was the start of the impressive form, Holdsworth quietly comfortable after a successful test day prior to the event.

Even he was surprised to have finishing fourth, and while positive and encouraged, Holdsworth had been careful not to get ahead of himself.

Surely enough, that was backed up with 14th at Bathurst, and 12th and fifth at the Gold Coast, topped off with qualifying sixth on the Surfers streets for the second race.

He praised the new enduro format, saying it gave him something to strive for after being lost in the drivers’ Championship.

“I thought, this is something we can aim at getting a really decent result over the three rounds and have a shot at the top 10 in this Enduro Cup. And it went better than expected.

“It’s definitely the highlight of my year so far and a massive boost for the team… I don’t think anyone’s ever come from that far behind to battling for the top five.”

It prompted Holdsworth to declare progress had come about a lot quicker than expected, to show not only the performance was there, but the team’s capability to put it all together smoothly and successfully.  

 “Obviously qualifying’s pretty important – but we’re getting on top of that with top 10 qualifying at Gold Coast.”

The IRWIN crew was treated to a team building day at the Oakey Army Base out past Toowoomba last week, with personal training, helicopter simulators and event shooting simulation amongst the visit.

“There’s a really good vibe in the team at the moment, especially after the enduros. We’ve got a really close bunch of guys, everyone’s working towards the same thing. So it’s a good place to be and we can’t wait to go to Phillip Island now.”

The Victorian event, the Sargent Security Phillip Island 360, runs from November 22-24, with tickets now on sale through Ticketek.