Holdsworth return slated for Sydney ride day
Lee Holdsworth
Lee Holdsworth is set to ease back into driving duties at a ride day immediately after the Sydney Motorsport Park Super Sprint from August 26-28.
Holdsworth has made strong progress in his recovery from his fractured pelvis, right knee and two broken ribs from the nasty broadside into a concrete barrier on the opening lap of Race 13 at Hidden Valley in June.
On board sensors recorded the Team 18 driver’s left-side impact at a colossal 95g.
Holdsworth is recovering with regular hydrotherapy sessions as team owner Charlie Schwerkolt is pinning his hopes on easing his charge back to the wheel at the ride day on August 29.
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As previously reported, Karl Reindler will take over the duties at Sydney Motorsport Park, replacing the 17-year-old Kurt Kostecki who was thrown into challenging rounds at Townsville and Queensland Raceway.
With the damage to the Preston Hire Holden deemed too great to fix following the Darwin round, the team were forced to bring Kostecki and his Commodore into the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship from the Development Series.
The fresh Team 18 chassis in the final week of its build at Triple Eight Race Engineering headquarters in Brisbane
Team 18 says a fresh Triple Eight chassis is booked to be completed and be dispatched from the Brisbane workshop to Team 18’s Melbourne base tomorrow week.
“It (the new car) should leave on Thursday week for Melbourne. Then we have a shakedown planned for early on the following week,” Schwerkolt told Speedcafe.com.
“Everything seems to be on track but it has been a particularly difficult few months for everyone.”
The team has booked Winton for the new chassis’ shakedown with Reindler at the helm ahead of the SMP weekend.
“Then our plan is for Lee to be having a steer of the car at a ride day the day after the Sydney Motorsport Park round if all goes according to plan,” added Schwerkolt.
“Lee is currently getting about with the aid of a walking frame but he will be rid of that next week and be on crutches.
“Every few days he jumps in the pool and I think it’s all tracking well for his return to Sandown (Wilson Security 500 from September 16-18).
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