[V8SC] Lee Holdsworth column

The endurance season has started and to kick it off was the Phillip Island 500. I always look forward to the endurance events, there’s always a great atmosphere and a different preparation process leading up to the race making it a unique part of the V8 Supercar Championship.

I was sharing the car with my team-mate Michael Caruso. We had high expectations, we finished 5^th at this event last year so we felt that we were good enough for a podium result this year if everything went our way.

From the moment our car hit the track we struggled for pace. Practice and qualifying was another tough one for Michael and I. We started the race from 17^th for Sunday’s 500km race……. however we both knew that we could still win the race from 17^th as long as we could put together a good race package.

We decided to take a punt and go with the setup we used at this track last year….. After all, the car couldn’t get any worse!!

It seemed the punt paid off, Michael making his way from 17^th up to 8^th towards the end of his first stint. Things were starting to look up; we had a quick car, probably quick enough for a top 3 result. There was a collision on track which caused a safety car…. We had to take advantage of it and pit Michael while we had the chance. The only problem was that our other car had already been called to the pits at he same time meaning we had to cue behind them in pit lane for over 40 seconds!!

We did our driver change and I knew I had a big battle on my hands when I re-entered the track in 22^nd position. I made my way back to 18^th in just a couple of laps. The pace was brilliant, lapping at times that were quicker than the leaders every lap. Then the dramas started………. Allan Simonson in the 2^nd Triple 8 entry locked a brake when he was close behind causing him to plow into the back of our car. I left the track briefly while trying to gain control and came back on the track in 24^th position.

By this stage I was getting a little frustrated and impatient as you can imagine! I started making my way through the field again, but when I caught up on Brad Jones I made a move that would see us retire from the race. I got a huge tow as I tucked under his rear wing down the fast front straight and as I pulled to the inside to pass he jumped hard on the brakes. I clipped his right rear wheel and busted the suspension on our car. It was a scary moment when I left the track at over 260km/h without control. Fortunately I was able to get the car back to the pits safely, but our day was over.

After the weekend the team realized they made the wrong call to cue us behind our 2^nd car. I’m not going to make excuses for my mistake but if we were fighting with the cars up the front, which is were we would have been, the accident probably wouldn’t have happened.  We will learn from this and head to Bathurst in less than 4 weeks time knowing that we will be prepared to win.

Bathurst is my favourite circuit and we can’t wait to get there! I look forward to coming back with long awaited good news after a fantastic weekend at the mountain.

Cheers,

Lee Holdsworth #33