Who is Lee Holdsworth?
Lee Holdsworth has established himself as one of V8 Supercars’ finest drivers in only a short period of time; he comes to IRWIN Racing in 2012 with an impressive resume that he is ready to build on.
Together with Stone Brothers Racing, Holdsworth’s move in 2012 is geared towards building a championship contending season and strong long-term partnership with IRWIN Racing and SBR.
Launching straight into his new role as IRWIN Racing’s pilot, he is looking forward to the new challenges ahead of him including the switch from Holden to Ford.
Continually improving since joining the V8 Supercars main series, Holdsworth’s 2011 season was one of excitement, taking home eighth place for the year.
Holdsworth’s consistency has been key to his success, rarely out of the top 10 in a round he is always on the hunt for the podium, claiming three in 2011.
After beginning in go-karting at the age of seven at the Ipswich Kart Club, Holdsworth began racing in Commodore Cup in 2002 at 17 years of age.
In just his first year Lee was the highest placed Rookie finishing fifth in the championship and third in the following year.
2004 saw Holdsworth invited to the V8 Development Series ranks, however with his talent he wasn’t to stay in the series for long.
He was picked up as a prodigy for Gary Rogers Motorsport and put on the swift path to the V8 Supercars main game, initially to contest the endurance events and Phillip Island in 2005.
After his impressive turn behind the wheel of the GRM Commodore VZ he was signed to the team full-time for the 2006 season.
In his first season, rookie Holdsworth held his own in an established racing field, taking home two overall sixth place finishes at Oran Park and the Sandown 500.
He continued to improve in 2007, taking a handful of top 10 qualifiers and race results, his growing confidence and form did not go unnoticed by the V8 Supercars community and his team; halfway through the season he was rewarded with his first new car, the VE Commodore.
He subsequently took his first round win at the very next race at Oran Park, proving once again that putting a little faith in his ability would return in spades for the team, his season continued with more top ten finishes and his best season placing of 15th.
Holdsworth took to 2008 strongly, using his experience and confidence to put in an early charge for the championship, his second place in the opening round of the season certainly made those who had underestimated him stand up and take notice.
Despite an impressive charge which put him on the radar of his competitors very quickly he was unable to secure a top ten season placing, ending the season just outside in 11th.
He was to wait until 2009 to make that goal, finishing in tenth place for the year after only four years in the series.
The season proved to be very fruitful with three podium finishes including third place on the coveted Bathurst 1000 podium with Michael Caruso.
2010 saw Holdsworth’s GRM Commodore VE take on a new sponsor, Fujitsu Racing, and just in time for the endurance season Holdsworth launched a brand new car, his #33 Commodore VE II, which he took to the top spot in Sydney for the second year in a row, before claiming seventh place for the year.
In his last season with GRM, Holdsworth held his place in the top ten of the V8 Supercars field, taking three podiums in 2011, including Hamilton, Winton and the Gold Coast with international teammate Simon Pagenaud.
With the expertise of SBR behind him Holdsworth’s 2012 debut and season in the #4 IRWIN Racing Ford Falcon FG is highly anticipated.