HOLDSWORTH JUMPS ON BOARD DRIVER TALENT PROGRAM

PRESS RELEASE/Race Academy International – Photo: supplied

HE might be the new kid on the block at Tickford Racing, but in reality, veteran Supercars driver Lee Holdsworth is set to enter his fourteenth season, this year at the wheel of the Botte’O Mustang.
 
At the same time, he’ll join fellow Supercars driver Anton De Pasquale as a mentor with driver talent program Race Academy International, which holds its inaugural competition day on 28 March 2019, at Sydney Motor Sport Park.
 
“Jumping on board with Race Academy International gives me a chance to give something back to those who dream to be race car drivers,” Holdsworth said.
 
“It’s an opportunity for me to share what I’ve learnt over the years, and maybe up and coming drivers can learn a little something too.”
 
Holdsworth spent the last four years with Charlie Schwerkolt’s Team 18, an alliance that began under the Walkinshaw Racing umbrella in 2015, before the team went out on their own with a Triple Eight-built Commodore from 2016-2018.
 
The move to a standalone model proved difficult for the team and saw the Melbourne local struggle to become a consistent front runner. But while his long-term career seemed in doubt, his opportunity at Tickford Racing may be his best yet.
 
He joins the team, themselves looking to bounce back in form, to debut the new Ford Mustang Supercar, and brings with him driving knowledge that began in karts at age seven, before a stint in Commodore Cup.
 
He first entered the Dunlop Super2 series in 2004, catching the eye of Garry Rogers, landing an enduro drive in 2005 and full-time opportunity in ’06, taking his first podium mid-year at Oran Park.

One year later at the Sydney circuit, Holdsworth claimed his maiden Supercars race win, taking a second victory with GRM at Homebush in 2010. He moved to Stone Brothers Racing for 2012, which morphed into Erebus Motorsport and swapped Fords for Mercedes in 2013.

Holdsworth continued his strong career with the new team, achieving its highest championship result, plus highest race finish and qualifying results through a tough development year.

In 2014, he became the first driver to win a Supercars race for Erebus Motorsport and Mercedes at Winton before his move to Team 18. He comes to Race Academy International keen to guide undiscovered talent.

“It’s a great way to unearth raw racing talent, and if I can help influence that journey, then that’s a great thing too.”
 
Entries are open now in each of four categories, Freshman, Clubman, State and Ultra, with a range of prizes on offer, including drives in the 2019 E36 BMW Series, NSW Production Touring Cars Series, and Performax TA2 Muscle Car series.

To find out more, visit www.raceacademyinternational.com/programs

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