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Holdsworth: I need to regrow confidence

23 Nov 2014
But Leethal confident 2015 shift to Schwerkolt Falcon will be just the boost he needs.
4 mins by James Pavey
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Lee Holdsworth has admitted his confidence behind the wheel will take time rebuild when he makes the shift from Erebus Motorsport V8 to Charlie Schwerkolt Racing in 2015.

The 31-year old has endured two tough years at Erebus helping the team develop its Mercedes-Benz AMG Customer Sports program, including two spectacular accidents in a row at the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 this year.

Holdsworth also brought the team its only win, last April at Winton, and will celebrate his 300th race start at the December 5-7Sydney NRMA 500 Championship finale.

Holdsworth's move to Schwerkolt's privateer Ford Falcon effort, which runs out of Prodrive Racing Australia in Melbourne, came despite Erebus announcing in August that a new multi-year deal had been "signed".

But the contract was only ever verbally agreed to and when negotiations between Holdsworth and the team broke down, he moved to secure the drive with Schwerkolt.

"I think it would be silly of me to say it hasn't taken it out of me in the last two years," Holdsworth told v8supercars.com.au. "I need to prove to myself I can do it - even though deep down I know I can.

"I need to get back in a good car a car that is capable of winning races, to show what I am actually capable of, which will build my confidence. When you get results you get confidence.

"You can't buy confidence, you don't wake up with it one day. It's just something that builds up over time ... I am hoping it won't take too long to get some confidence back."

Despite that admission, Holdsworth makes the shift to CSR determined to race consistently near the front of the field in 2015 before making a really determined attack on the top rungs of the championship in 2016.

Holdsworth is basing that timeframe on his past experience, when he made the shift from long-time employer Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2012 to Stone Brothers Racing, where he claimed eighth place in the championship for the then factory-backed Ford team despite some issues developing the FG Falcon.

SBR transformed into Erebus in 2013 and Holdsworth effectively went back to the start of the curve as the team developed the new E63 AMG.

"I am guessing going to another team the first year is going to be tough," he said. "But I expect to be well inside the top 10 in the championship and getting podiums and a couple of wins. But it is always a two-year outlook, I think you can't expect to win championships the first year.

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"I believe in myself, I believe I can do the job in the right equipment. When you are running down the back, as we have a lot of times this year, you get caught up with other drivers who are frustrated and they are all making desperate moves and I am getting caught up in it.

"Looking back at the GRM days or even first year at SBR, when you are running in the top 10 you stay out of trouble and that is just a fact.

"I know I am a consistent driver and I don't make silly mistakes ... So right equipment, I can do the job and Charlie can see that potential in me. I have known that since I started, I have just never really had the opportunity to show that."

If Holdsworth can be a consistent top 10 runner it will be a step forward for Schwerkolt, who ran Alex Davison in his team's debut year in 2013 and Jack Perkins in 2014.

Schwerkolt has also confirmed that he is on the hunt for a new primary sponsor for the car after Jeld-Wen finishes its deal at the end of the season.

Holdsworth said he was confident Schwerkolt would sort the team backing out for next season: "I know Charlie really well and I know he will get the job done. I have no concerns in that regard."

He also revealed he is debating a shift back to Melbourne with wife Alana and daughter Ava to be close to the team, although that decision is yet to be made.

He will make his debut for the team at the Sydney Motorsport Park pre-season super test in February, although the transition from FG to FG X may not happen until after the championship opening Clipsal 500.

There is a certain irony in Holdsworth's shift to the PRA umbrella, as he was tossing up a drive with that operation at the end of 2011 to drive the Bottle-O Falcon. After three hectic seasons, he will end up at the team in the sister car.

"I was pretty close to doing a deal there obviously and three years later it is actually happening. It's all hindsight, but it was a massive challenge at Erebus trying to develop the car.

"I had a lot of fun with it, but it would have been nice if it led somewhere. I invested two years of my career trying to develop the car. In the end I know am jumping in to a good car and going straight into equipment that can win races, which is the most reassuring thing."

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