Holdsworth banks on basic approach
SANDOWN holds no fear for Lee Holdsworth.
Last year his life flashed before his eyes as he slammed into a barrier at more than 260km/h at the Sandown 500.
But the 32-year-old V8 Supercars Championship driver says he will put the experience behind him when he returns to Melbourne next week.
“It shook me up a fair bit, it was the worst crash of my career,” he said.
“Hopefully it will remain that way. I’m certainly over it now. That’s in the past.”
A lot has changed for Holdsworth since he walked away from the crash shaken but unscathed.
The former Gold Coaster has shifted from Erebus Motorsport to Walkinshaw Racing in search of results but admits pace has been an issue for much of 2015. As he chases from behind in 17th position in the Supercars standings, Holdsworth says he hopes to turn things around at Sandown this year and build on some strong results in qualifying at Sydney Motorsport Park last month.
“The speed we found at Sydney Motorsport Park I think puts us in a really good spot,” he said.
“I wasn’t that excited by the result – the speed was what was impressive to me. I look forward to the enduros every year, it’s an exciting part of the championship.
“When you’re 17th like I am now you look to other parts of the season where you can perform well.
“Enduros are certainly the start of a new championship.”
Holdsworth said he felt encouraged by the team’s efforts in Sydney.
“To put it in its simplest form we went back to basics,” he told the Bulletin. “Going back to what we know works is working for me and that’s pleasing.”
Holdsworth’s crash in 2014 was caused by a puncture to the right rear tyre as a result of low tyre pressure.
Subsequently, V8 Supercars introduced a mandatory minimum tyre pressure of 17 psi at the Bathurst 1000 last year.
The Sandown 500 runs ferom from September 11-13.