Who is Lee Holdsworth?

In 2012 Holdsworth has taken the big career jump to help him achieve his dream of winning a V8 Supercars Championship.

After six consecutive seasons with the under-performing Garry Rogers Motorsport, Holdsworth made the biggest driver move in the off season and committed to a three year deal with triple V8 champion team, Stone Brothers Racing.

Moving to SBR gives Holdsworth the opportunity to not only run with one of the sport’s biggest teams, but gives him the ammunition to challenge for podiums and race wins in 2012.

The former Commodore Cup star started racing go-karts at an early age and was competing in the V8 Supercars Development Series by 2004. Garry Rogers, who is renowned for unearthing new talent, took the gamble and hired Holdsworth for the endurance events in 2005.

Following up the endurance races with a drive at Phillip Island that year; Rogers signed him to race full-time, which led to a five year contract.

Results weren’t forthcoming at the start of the 2006 series, his first full-time season, but by Oran Park in the middle of year, Holdsworth shocked everyone, taking his first podium result in the second race of the weekend.

Holdsworth’s performances were starting to improve, but it was 2007 that he broke through and showed what he was capable of.

Seven times he qualified in the top 10, with a best starting place of fourth at Oran Park, he had 11 top 10 results and won his first race, which saw him stand on the top step of the podium for the very first time.

Continuing to grow in confidence, Holdsworth followed this up with 20 top 10 race results and three further race podiums in 2008.

In 2009 and 2010, Holdsworth was one of the strongest drivers racing, which is remarkable given the GRM Holdens weren’t known for their technical superiority. Holdsworth had the talent to wring every bit out of the car and race against the sport’s leading teams and drivers.

Over those two years, Holdsworth made the top 10 in 31 of the 52 races, including podiums at Clipsal (twice), Hamilton, Winton and Bathurst before winning his second career race on the streets of Sydney.

In-fact Sydney has been a happy hunting ground for Holdsworth, winning races at Oran Park and at Olympic Park, and he has enjoyed three poles at Sydney, one in 2009 and two back-to-back in 2010.

Having enjoyed his most successful season in 2010, where he finished seventh in the championship, Holdsworth had higher ambitions for 2011. In the most recently completed season, Holdsworth qualified in the top 10 in 18 of the 28 races, including second in Sydney and third in Adelaide and Sandown, but he was unable to convert those into as many strong performances as the year before.

Although he finished the season in eighth place, Holdsworth was expecting more from the season. He enjoyed time on the podium in Hamilton, Winton and the Gold Coast, but only finished in the top 10 on eight further occasions.

While many drivers would have been thrilled with such results, it was a drop on his performances from the year before.

With the expertise of SBR behind him and the proven strength of the #4 IRWIN Tools Ford Falcon, Holdsworth is aiming for a top five finish in the 2012 championship, including an increase in podiums and more race wins.

DRIVER CHAT

Date of birth: February 2, 1983

Birthplace: Melbourne

Lives: Gold Coast

Marital Status: Married (Alana)

Height: 170cm

Weight: 73kg

Children: Nil

Nickname: Leethal

Interests: All Motorsport, Rugby, Squash, Bike Riding

Personal vehicle: FPV Ute

First Job: Cleaner

First Road Car: Holden VK Calais

First race car: Commodore Cup

Hero: Nigel Mansell

Favourite circuit and why: Homebush, because it’s the most challenging circuit both physically and mentally, a small mistake has serious consequences.

Favourite Race and why: Definitely the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. This race holds so much history so it brings such an amazing atmosphere. I’ve been watching this race with my dad and brother since I was a little toddler which makes it very special to me.

Most memorable racing moment: Winning the Jim Beam 400 and winning my first race at Oran Park in 2007

Greatest personal influence: My dad

I prepare for a race by: Relaxing in the race truck listening to either fire up music or chill out music

Best advice ever given: Never bet on a fat race horse!

Best/Worst part of the job: Best part of the job is the satisfaction I get when I know I got the very best out of myself and the car, plus knowing I’m so lucky to be living my dream. The worst part of the job is not being able to race every weekend

Significance of helmet design: Personal sponsor’s logos and colours

You’ll never see me without: Grey hair (Thanks Dad!)

Favourite food: Pizza

Favourite movie: Days of Thunder

Music on my iPod: John Butler Trio, Ben Harper, Hilltop Hoods, LMFAO, Jay-Z (Bit of everything really, different music for different moods)

My exercise regime includes: Two hours of training each morning, five days a week. This consists of boxing, bike riding, running and core strength exercises.