Supercar ace seeks revival in New Zealand

Media release from V8 SuperTourers

Friday 13 September

Supercar ace seeks revival in New Zealand

V8 Supercar driver Lee Holdsworth is looking to New Zealand to turn his year around.

Now in his eighth season as a full-time Supercar driver, and a race-winner, the 30-year-old Aussie has been having a tough time this year as his new Erebus Mercedes team is struggling to catch up with the established Ford and Holden teams.

Holdsworth admits 2013 has been frustrating so far, but hopes joining New Zealand’s BNT V8 SuperTourer endurance series as co-driver to Aucklander Tim Edgell will be more rewarding.

“It’ll be good to drive in another category and get back to having a bit of fun with racing -- to get back to the reasons why I started racing in the first place, and enjoy it,” he said.

The three-round endurance series, headline act in the Hankook Super Series, starts at Hampton Downs’ Waikato 400 meeting on September 28-29.

“It’ll be a good event,” Holdsworth said. “I’m sure there’ll be a lot of interest with all the drivers coming across from over here but also there’s a lot of good talent there in New Zealand doing the series already.

“There’s been plenty of talk about SuperTourers over here. Everyone’s pretty excited about going over there and having a bit of fun. I’ve never driven one but I’ve heard they’re similar to the V8 Supercar.”

Holdsworth and Edgell are about the same size, which will make driver changes in their Chesters Commodore during the races easier as there will be no need to change the seating position. They also share a sponsor in Fuchs Oils.

Other full-time V8 Supercar drivers in the V8 SuperTourers series will include Kiwis Shane Van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin and Aussies Tim Slade and Chaz Mostert, with more expected to be announced soon.

ENDS

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