HOLDSWORTH TO START 200TH V8 RACE IN TASMANIA
While IRWIN Racing’s Lee Holdsworth will spend a few seconds thinking about his 200th V8 Supercars race start, he is more focussed on getting a top result in Tasmania this weekend.
After five races this year Holdsworth has impressed everyone with his speed and his results. In two races at the season-opening Clipsal 500 and three non-championship outings at the Australian Grand Prix, he is yet to finish lower than eighth.
Coming into the second event of the V8 Supercars Championship, Holdsworth is sitting sixth overall and is going to Symmons Plains Raceway wanting to improve this position.
Holdsworth believes that if he can improve his qualifying performances, he has a chance to finish inside the top five and could even make the podium.
Holdsworth is feeling relaxed, he’s happy with the direction that he and his engineer Brad Wischusen are going with the IRWIN Tools Ford and he is enjoying driving a car that looks after its tyres.
The Tasmania Challenge begins at Symmons Plains Raceway this Friday. There are two races across the weekend, a 140km sprint on Saturday followed by a longer 84 lap, 200 kilometre race on Sunday.
What IRWIN Racing’s Lee Holdsworth had to say:
“Tasmania has been a good track for the team in the past, it’d be nice to get the IRWIN Tools Ford up there. There’re some hard breaking zones at Symmons Plains Raceway and it’s very technical through turns one and two, it’s easy to lock up a wheel, but it’s a good fun track and the crowd gets right behind us and enjoys the racing. In previous years I’ve struggled with tyre life, but it’s different at SBR and with the IRWIN Ford, our tyre life has been great. If I can qualify well then I’ll certainly be looking for a top five, possibly a podium result and a haul of points for the championship.
What Lee had to say about his 200th V8 Race start:
“200 race starts, is that right? I knew it was coming up but didn’t realise it was at Symmons Plains. I suppose it says I‘m doing something right. My favourite memory is still winning at Oran Park in 2007. It was my first race win and my first round win. Standing on the podium with (Craig) Lowndes and (Steven) Richards next to me meant a lot because I respected them so much. It was a pretty proud moment; it still stands out the most for me. Of course, I’d like to add to my tally of wins this year. The top 10 then five is my first aim, then we’ll try for podiums. I’d like to think I can win a race in 2012.”
What IRWIN Racing’s engineer Brad Wischusen had to say:
“The fast nature of Symmons Plains Raceway means you need a really strong engine and a car that is good under brakes heading into the hairpin. You can run low ride heights because it’s not a particularly bumpy track and the lower ride heights help with the aerodynamics package. The last two corners are quite high load so the guys are on the throttle while they are turning so you need a lot of rear support in the car to achieve turn and drive at the same time. It’s the first permanent track that we go to, we don’t have the curves like we did at Clipsal and the Grand Prix, this changes the dampers and the hard and soft tyre rules come in, so we’ll focus on the best possible set up for both types of tyres.”
2012 V8 Supercars Championship after 2 of 29 races
1. Will Davison 288 points
2. Jamie Whincup 270
3. Garth Tander 258
4. Mark Winterbottom 222
5. Craig Lowndes 206
6. Lee Holdsworth 201
7. Fabian Coulthard 186
8. Shane van Gisbergen 174
9. Rick Kelly 168
10. Tim Slade 147
LEE HOLDSWORTH CAREER STATISTICS
Event Starts: 90
Race Starts: 199
Best Finish: 1st – Race 23, Oran Park 2007 & Race 26, Sydney Olympic Park 2010
Best Qualifying: Pole – Race 11, Townsville 2009 & Race 26, Sydney Olympic park, 2010
2011 Championship Position: Eighth
Current 2012 Championship Position: Sixth
2010 Saturday Qualifying: 12th
2010 Sunday Qualifying: 8th
2010 Saturday Race: 16th
2010 Sunday Race: 13th
Best Tasmania Challenge Qualifying Result: Fourth, Race 1, 2007 & 2008
Best Tasmania Challenge Race Result: Fifth, Sunday Race, 2009
TASMANIA CHALLENGE DETAILS:
Circuit: Symmons Plains Raceway
Location: Launceston, TAS
Circuit Length: 2.4km
Format:
Friday: 1 x 30min & 2 x 20min practice sessions
Saturday: 1 X 30m practice, 1 x 20min qualifying & 1 x 59 lap/140km race
Sunday: 1 X 30m practice, 1 x 20min qualifying & 1 x 84 lap/200km race
Tyres: Hard and Soft tyres across weekend
2011 results:
2011 Saturday Qualifying Pole Winner: Jamie Whincup
2011 Saturday Race Winner: Jamie Whincup
2011 Saturday Qualifying Pole Winner: Paul Dumbrell
2011 Sunday Race Winner: Jamie Whincup
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The times below are in Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time Friday to Saturday and Australian Eastern Standard Time on Sunday
Friday, March 30:
Practice 1: 1.00pm – 1.30pm
Practice 2: 2.10pm – 2.30pm
Practice 3: 2.40pm – 3.00pm
Saturday, March 31:
Practice 4: 10.10am – 10.40am
Qualifying: 1.25pm – 1.45pm
Race 3: 4.10pm – 5.15pm – 59 laps/140kms
Sunday, April 1:
Practice 5: 10.05am – 10.35am
Qualifying: 1.00pm – 1.20pm
Race 4: 3.35pm – 5.15pm – 84 laps/200kms
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Melbourne times, please check local guides for other capital city times/stations:
SEVEN MATE
Saturday, March 31:
3.00pm – 5.30pm Qualifying and Race 3
11.00pm – 12.00am Highlights Channel 7
Sunday, April 1
2.30pm – 5.30pm Qualifying & Race 4
10.30pm – 11.30pm Highlights Channel 7