[V8SC] Lee Holdsworth column

by Lee Holdsworth



Gold Coast Super GP

After coming down from a huge high at Bathurst I headed north to compete at what I consider to be the most challenging circuits on the V8 calendar, Surfers Paradise. This event always puts on a great display........ I mean what more could you ask of a race weekend than sun, surf, parties and girls........ Oh and the racing of course! For those reasons alone it makes it one of the most entertaining events of the year, not to mention all the biff and barge that comes with the nature of a track that resembles a concrete jungle.

Unfortunately for GRM we got caught up in a fair bit of that biff and barge on the track and didn't accumulate many points as a result.

The weekend consisted of 2 races, although each race was split into a part A and part B meaning only half points were up for grabs for each part of the 2 races.......... I know, very confusing! It was a result of the A1 GP cars withdrawing from the event just days before it started meaning the V8's had to fill in the time gaps by having 4x150km races.

Like I was saying, our weekend didn't quite go to plan after qualifying 11th for Part A of race 1. It is by far the hardest track to attempt to pass other cars as your brakes and engine temperature overheat very quickly when you're following someone closely. For most of the race I was following other cars which caused my brakes to develop inconsistencies. The rear brakes locked up into turn 1 turning me directly into the tyre wall and just to make things worse my team-mate, while trying to avoid me, ran into the side of my car which put us both out of the race! The boys put in a big effort to get us back out there for Part B.

In Part B of race 1 I started 24th and worked my way to 14th by the end of the race.

On Sunday we had to qualify for race 2 Part A. Things were looking good, I was sitting 2nd position for the first half of the session until a nasty vibration occurred in the rear of the car. The tail shaft bolts came loose and I wasn't able to finish the session. I watched my name plummet to 18th position by the end of the session.

I fought my way through the field to 8th position with just 8 laps remaining. My next challenge was the #51 car of Murphy. I managed to get a good run on him onto the back straight and moved to the inside to make a pass. Only problem was that neither of us wanted to back out as we approached the corner. We clashed wheels causing damage to my suspension. Murphy was able to continue on to the end of the race leaving me to limp home in 22nd position

Starting from 22nd for Part B of race 2 was tough. I had an absolute blinder start doing 0-100km/hin just 3.2 seconds!! I jumped to 16th by turn 3.

It just wasn't to be my weekend..... they reformed everyone to their original grid positions after confusion at the first corner involving a number of cars. I had to reform back to 22nd position and fight my way back through the field. I had great pace in this race and was able to move to 12th position by race end and set the 3rd fastest race lap.

All in all it was a very ordinary result for our team. I guess there were a few positives that I got from it though, including the amount of publicity I got for showing my backside in the driver introductions! Although the V8 Supercar organisers weren't very pleased with me so I was slapped with a $2500 suspended fine for inappropriate behaviour. I know, ridiculous hey!!

We are now getting close to season end and some exciting events are coming up as well as the Phillip Island event in just over a week's time. I look forward to reporting some good news after that.

Cheers,

Lee Holdsworth








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