The 'gutting' moment driving Holdsworth to repay WAU
Lee Holdsworth putting Sandown spin behind him
Holdsworth to make 21st Bathurst start on October 13
Mostert/Holdsworth won Bathurst in '21, fourth last year
The disappointment of an uncharacteristic mistake at Sandown, coupled with the love of Bathurst, is motivating Lee Holdsworth to reward Walkinshaw Andretti United at the Great Race.
Already a Bathurst winner with Chaz Mostert, Holdsworth is more determined to deliver at Mount Panorama after an error early in the Sandown 500 forced the highly-fancied duo to fight back.
After a wild spin at Turn 1 for Holdsworth, Mostert put on a sterling comeback drive and limited the damage in the championship with seventh by day's end. Mostert said the team "didn't want it enough," WAU lamented a "diabolical" execution of the race, and Holdsworth was left disappointed by his own mistake.
However, the veteran has not only put the spin behind him, but is already thinking about how to deliver at the Mountain.
“The spin obviously didn't help, but we had a couple of other issues along the way. But I think in terms of our pace, we were good for top three,” Holdsworth told Supercars.com.
“The potential was there for a top three. I was pretty devastated that I made that mistake, because I've always prided myself on not being one to make big mistakes.
"It was pretty gutting, but we ended up with seventh, which was a great comeback. Chaz drove a great race, we had good speed between the two of us and clawed our way back.
“But yeah, it was a bit of a case of what could have been. But now it's eyes forward for Bathurst and trying to get the best result possible there.”
Holdsworth dropped from fourth to 12th in the spin, which he insisted was a "one-off" amid an otherwise flawless run all weekend.
"I’m trying not to think about it too much, because it was a small mistake that ended up having big consequences,” Holdsworth said of the error.
“It was probably a lapse in judgment, just committing to the throttle a little too early on the exit there, getting a bit loose, and then catching the pothole, which spat me across the track.
“It was obviously wet in that spot as well, which then caused the car to overcorrect quite aggressively. I've put that one behind me and I’m putting it down to a one-off.
"Throughout the whole weekend, apart from that one mistake, I felt like I did a fairly good job. But just one thing was pretty costly. I don't want to focus on that. I want to focus on doing the best job I can for WAU and for Chaz for Bathurst."
After the race, Holdsworth joined the team in the workshop to pick the eventful day apart and leave no stones unturned for the big one. Having won it in 2021, Holdsworth has no doubt the team has what it takes to do it again, given how much Bathurst means to WAU.
“After the race, we all grouped together in the workshop and had a bit of a chat about all the things that we could have done better as a team,” the 41-year-old said.
“We’re making sure that we're using Sandown as a bit of a warm-up for Bathurst. Bathurst means a lot more to the team, and to us drivers than what Sandown does.
"But, there's a bigger picture here as well, and that's the championship. So, you've got to keep that in mind. But having Sandown as a warm-up and having a couple of issues throughout the day, that can be addressed.
"I think it'll put us in a better position heading into Bathurst and feeling more prepared, and in a better mindset. Bathurst matters more. I have to make sure that I give the car back back to Chaz in a good position.
“Bathurst is about who can execute and make the least mistakes. Obviously you've got to have a fast car there. Chaz and I proved in '21 that you can come back from an issue, but you need a very good car to do it.”
Holdsworth will head to Bathurst with rookie Ryan Wood early in race week, with plans of a "cruisy" game of golf to set the tone for a week set on relaxing as much as possible, in order to attack the race weekend head-on.
"We want to have a slow start to the week because as we know, the media and commercial side of it gets pretty busy from the Wednesday," said Holdsworth, who will make his 21st Bathurst start.
“We're pretty relaxed about it, WAU had really good speed earlier in the year at Bathurst, that certainly gives us confidence going into this event that we're in for a good shot.
“But we’ve gotta make sure we dots the i's and crosses the t's. Everyone's gotta do their job, but the more we can relax and enjoy it, I think the better the outcome."
