Promising signs in challenging season opener for Penrite Racing

Penrite Racing experienced mixed results across the first race day of the 2022 Supercars Championship season at the Beaurepaires Sydney Supernight.

Showing solid speed to earn a spot in the Top 10 Shootout, car #26 driver David Reynolds surged through the field under the lights of Sydney Motorsport Park on the Supersoft tyre in the opening laps of the first 300km race, finding himself P3. While Lee Holdsworth aboard car #10 made his full-time return to Supercars from grid position 23.

Reynolds held his ground in the battling pack after the first round of compulsory pit stops in P4, until he hit drama on Lap 39, with a split oil cooler putting paid to any hopes of a podium result.

Holdsworth battled on climbing as high as P15, while Penrite Racing made hasty repairs to Reynolds car #26 in order to salvage some championship points. Ultimately Holdsworth fell to P21 while battling tyre issues to finish Race 1. The focus of the team now shifts to Qualifying, Top 10 Shootout and Race 2 tomorrow – Sunday, March 6.

Penrite Racing car #26 Driver, David Reynolds: “It was awesome to make the Top 10 shootout and we felt upbeat going into the race. We made the call to start on the supersoft trye and it was good fun charging through the field early to get up closer to the podium places.

“Obviously we had some mechanical dramas but we had some great speed out there and I’m looking forward to getting the team a result in tomorrow’s 300km race. I’m confident we’re on the right track with the car and the team.”

 

Penrite Racing car #10 Driver, Lee Holdsworth: “We had a really positive start to the weekend in Friday Practice but weren’t able to carry that into today with our set up direction. I fought hard in the race but couldn’t get the confidence with the car that I’d like.”

“It was good to be back out there and racing again in my own car but it’s not the result we were hoping for, we’ll work at it tonight and come back better tomorrow. We don’t know what the weather will throw up at us, maybe some more rain, but we’re focussed on finishing the weekend off strongly and taking home a healthy bag of points.”

 

Qualifying 

David Reynolds: P9

Lee Holdsworth: P23

 

Top 10 Shootout 

David Reynolds: P9

 

Race 1 – 300km, 77 Laps

Lee Holdsworth: P21

David Reynolds: P24 (13 laps down)