LEE HOLDSWORTH READY TO CHALLENGE FOR THE V8 TITLE

New IRWIN Racing recruit Lee Holdsworth has officially started work with Queensland based Stone Brothers Racing and can’t wait for the engines to start in February.

Holdsworth, who has won two races over the course of his 89 event, 198 race career, including 75 top 10 finishes, four poles, 14 top three race finishes and 11 podiums, is looking forward to adding to his V8 Supercars career statistics.

Having driven the IRWIN Tools Ford Falcon in December, Holdsworth is aiming to win a championship with his new team.

“Obviously I want to win a championship, that’s why I came here and that’s why Ross and Jimmy (Stone) got me on board,” said Lee Holdsworth.

“We’ll take it step by step and try to improve every time we get in the car.

“There’s a lot of work to do, but we all have the same goal, we want to work towards winning the championship.

“These guys know how to win, they build good solid cars and they have some really good stuff happening with the car of the future (in 2013).

“There’s a lot to really look forward to.”

Already Holdsworth is enjoying the change of a new team, having spent the past six years with Melbourne based outfit Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM)

“I was with GRM for six years, it’s nice to have a change,” said Holdsworth.

“I’ve come up to Queensland, back to my home town, with a very good team in SBR and IRWIN Tools.

“It’s brilliant to have such a good group of guys behind me, I’m looking forward to giving it a crack in 2012.”

Holdsworth believes that he’s joined IRWIN Racing at the perfect time, with SBR in the mix to challenge Triple Eight Racing for the championship.

“We all know that it all goes around in cycles, as to who’s at the top,” said Holdsworth.

“This helped in my decision as to where I’d end up in 2012.

“I made the right decision in picking Stone Brothers because they look like they are nearly at the top of their cycle.

“I think I’ve come on board at a really good time. It’s definitely exciting times.”

Having already driven the IRWIN Ford, at Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland; not only is Holdsworth “pumped” ahead of the season start next month, but he is already starting to consider his new year goals.

“It’s hard to set any concrete goals at the moment because I need to see how I fare up compared to the rest,” said Holdsworth.

“I need to get my head around this Ford. It’s brilliant, it is quite different to what I’m used to and it requires me to drive differently to what I’ve done in the past.

“As soon as I get my head around it I’ll know where I stand.

“I would have thought that a top five (in the championship) would be a good start and we’ll take it from there.”

Holdsworth gets his first official drive of the #4 IRWIN Tools Ford Falcon at the compulsory season opening test day at Sandown Raceway on Saturday, February 11.

The first V8 Supercars event of the season is the Adelaide Clipsal 500, March 1-4, 2012.

Lee Holdsworth Statistics

Date of Birth: 2 February, 1983
Birthplace: Melbourne, Vic
Resides: Broadbeach Waters, Qld
Nickname: Leethal
Height: 170cm
Weight: 72kg
Marital Status: Married to Alana Holdsworth
Interest: Motor Racing, All Sports

V8 Supercar Championship Series Stats

Debut: Sandown 500, 2004
Event Starts: 89
Event Wins: 2 (Race 23, 2007 – Oran Park & Race 26, 2010 – Sydney)
Event Podiums: 11. 1st: 2, 2nd: 4, 3rd: 5
Race Starts: 198
Race Wins: 2 (Race 23, 2007 – Oran Park & Race 26, 2010 – Sydney)
Top 3 Race Finishes: 14
Top 10 Race Finishes: 75
Poles: 4 (Race 11, 2009 – Townsville, Race 26, 2009, Races 25 & 26, 2010 – Sydney)
Front Row Stats: 6
Best Season Result: 7th- 2010

Bathurst 1000 Stats

Debut: 2004 (Commodore VY with Mark Noske)
Starts: 8
Best Qualifying: 4th (2009 w. Michael Caruso & 2010 w. David Besnard)
Best Result: 3rd (2009 – w. Michael Caruso)

Full Year Championship Results

2011: Garry Rogers Motorsport, Holden Commodore VE: 8th
2010: Garry Rogers Motorsport, Holden Commodore VE: 7th
2009: Garry Rogers Motorsport, Holden Commodore VE: 10th
2008: Garry Rogers Motorsport, Holden Commodore VZ: 11th
2007: Garry Rogers Motorsport, Holden Commodore VE: 15th
2006: Garry Rogers Motorsport, Holden Commodore VE: 20th