Holdsworth wants bragging rights over Mostert

Lee Holdsworth is eager to get Bathurst bragging rights over fellow 2021 winner Chaz Mostert next month.

Mostert and Holdsworth won last year’s race together for Walkinshaw Andretti United.

The win helped Holdsworth secure a full-time seat with Penrite Racing, with WAU releasing him from his co-driver contract.

For the 11th time since 1999, the defending race winners won’t compete together.

For the second time, Mostert will arrive in Bathurst as defending champion, but with a different co-driver.

Mostert won in 2014 with Paul Morris, and returned for the fateful 2015 weekend with Cam Waters.

Mostert would suffer injuries in a qualifying crash, ruling he and Waters out of the 2015 race.

Mostert will race with Fabian Coulthard, a gun-for-hire co-driver who missed out on a full-time 2022 seat.

Holdsworth will share his Penrite Ford with rookie Matt Payne, who is 20cm taller than Holdsworth.

Holdsworth is lapping up his first Bathurst as defending champion, and is hoping to keep Mostert in his mirrors.

“After last year, it’s more special going back this year,” Holdsworth said.

“We’ll get our name on the plaque down the main street, it’s gonna be great.

“Obviously we want to defend the title, but there’s another bloke down there trying to defend the same title.

“Chaz and I have got a great relationship, we’re good mates.

“When the helmets go on for the race, we won’t be best mates anymore.

“We’ll be playing for keeps. We all want to get our names on that trophy."

Mostert and Holdsworth dominated last December

Mostert has won four races in 2022, and is fifth in the points standings.

The 2021 Bathurst weekend was arguably Mostert's best of his career, given he cantered to pole in record time.

The 30-year-old is also aiming for a third straight Bathurst podium; he finished third with Warren Luff in 2020.

Luff will race with Nick Percat in the sister WAU car, and is looking for a seventh Bathurst podium.

For Mostert, whose team will switch to Ford next season, the story will hopefully swing to WAU again.

“You feel a little bit nervous going back there,” Mostert said.

“Can’t wait to drive up there early in the week and see the Mount Panorama sign.

“You realise there’s going to be a story written this year.

“You’ve got to go along for the ride, and hopefully it’s about us.”

Tickets for the Repco Bathurst 1000 are available on Supercars.com and Ticketek.

Last 10 Bathurst winners which were separated the following year

2019 winners: McLaughlin/Premat2020 results: McLaughlin/Slade 5th, Premat N/A

2018 winners: Lowndes/S.Richards2019 results: Whincup/Lowndes 4th, Winterbottom/S.Richards 6th

2014 winners: Mostert/Morris2015 results: Mostert/Waters DNS, Morris N/A

2013 winners: Winterbottom/S.Richards2014 results: Winterbottom/Owen 6th, Lowndes/S.Richards 10th

2009 winners: Tander/W.Davison2010 results: Tander/McConville 3rd, W.Davison/Reynolds DNF

2005 winners: Skaife/T.Kelly2006 results: Skaife/Tander DNF, R.Kelly/T.Kelly 2nd

2003-04 winners: Murphy/R.Kelly2005: Murphy/Weel DNF, Tander/R.Kelly 16th

2002 winners: Skaife/J.Richards2003 results: Skaife/T.Kelly 8th, J.Richards/Longhurst 5th

2001 winners: Skaife/Longhurst2002 results: Skaife/J.Richards 1st, Longhurst/White 6th

1998 winners: Bright/S.Richards1999 results: Murphy/S.Richards 1st, Bright/Baird DNF