PENRITE RACING CLAIMS 5TH IN THE TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP IN A BATTLE TO THE LAST LAP IN ADELAIDE

Penrite Racing has rounded out a treacherous Adelaide 500 weekend to win a nail-biting battle with Erebus Motorsport for 5th in the teams’ championship, as Lee Holdsworth signed off with a top 10 finish in his final race.

In another drama filled 78-lap encounter, David Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth found themselves deep in a street fight all afternoon long.

After making the top 10 shoot out earlier in the day, Reynolds was driving a clean race and hovered around the top 5, with the team playing a smart strategy to get him into contention for a podium with 30 laps to run.

However, any chance of finishing his season on a high was stolen on lap 48 when Will Davison and Brodie Kostecki tangled behind him at the hairpin, sending car #26 off the circuit and to the back of the pack as things became very tense in team garage.

As Reynolds began his recovery, Holdsworth was flying the flag in a spirited drive from P22 at the read of the grid.

Losing his radio at the start of the race, the retiring veteran went on a charge to make up 15 positions and sit P7 with 10 laps to go, as he kept the familiar sight of Erebus pilot Brodie Kostecki at bay and Penrite Racing ahead by just 1 point in the teams’ championship.

There was plenty of sweaty palms as 2022 champion Shane Van Gisbergen joined the battle on the last lap, but Holdsworth hung on to get the team home by just 10 points over Erebus, rounding out a chaotic Adelaide 500 season finale.

DRIVER COMMENTS

Car #10 Driver Lee Holdsworth, said: “Thanks to everyone in the team for their work this year and to the Grove Family for giving me the chance to go out on my own terms as a full-time driver. I’ll be back for the endurance races next year and I’m looking forward to the next challenge in life and enjoying time with my family.”

“It was an enjoyable drive for me today with a lot of passing to finish top 10 and I’m happy that I’ve been able to contribute in helping get the team home for 5th in the championship.

“My radio began dropping out at the start of the race, so I was only getting limited chat from the pits which made my race harder today.

“I had no plans to let Van Gisbergen by easily when I was P7 in the last few laps, when he got past I slipped off on the dirty track and Brodie Kostecki just got past.”

Car #26 Driver David Reynolds, said: “I was having a good run iand just got taken out by Brodie Kostecki and Davison behind me. It was a treacherous day for me, but Lee did an awesome job in his last ever race so I’m happy for him.

“We achieved our goal as a team to get 5th so I’m happy that we can take that home after this weekend.”

RESULTS

Race

Holdsworth: P9

Reynolds: P15

Top 10 Shootout

Reynolds: P10

Qualifying

Reynolds: P10

Holdsworth: P22

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Teams: P5

Reynolds: P8

Holdsworth: P13