It wasn’t just the Christmas-New Year period that had Shane Steenholdt celebrating as he prepared to farewell 2018; it was the fact that he managed to maintain his recent winning form, achieving three VSA Sprintcar feature-race wins on the trot.
Winning one feature race is good, but winning three consecutively is better, and that’s exactly what Steenholdt, who steers the Vic # 5 Riviera Tyre Service – Bairnsdale / SS Auto Wholesaler supported Maxim car, has done over the past month and a half, experiencing an almost flawless start to his 2018-19 season so far with three victories from four starts.
Contributing his recent string of success with his adjusted driving style, the Bairnsdale, Victoria-based driver has made some improvements to the way he approaches each race, which have ultimately paid off.
“It’s been a strong start for us so far this season, and that’s in no small part due to the fact that I’m a lot calmer heading into each race meeting and have been able to keep my composure from the start of each race through to the finish,” explained the defending VSA Sprintcar Club Champion.
“In the past, I’ve been guilty of getting a bit too excited and slightly overdriving at times, but having focused on improving that this season, we’ve really been able to capitalise on our speed, which has consistently been reflected in his results and bodes well for the rest of the season.”
Clinching his first win for the 2018-19 season at Rosedale Speedway in mid-November, Steenholdt managed to back up his victory during a VSA Sprintcar Club Championship points round on Boxing Night at Bairnsdale Speedway, followed by his third win on December 27 back at Rosedale Speedway.
Also experiencing a steady run recently, Steenholdt’s teammate Mark Noonan’s campaign has consisted of a fifth and 11th-place finish at Rosedale Speedway, along with finishing just off the podium in fourth at Bairnsdale Speedway, while regular crew member Marc Behan enjoyed an enjoyable guest appearance at Bairnsdale Speedway on Boxing Night.
For his next appearance, Steenholdt, along with Noonan, will be back in action on the Saturday night of January 12 at Ballarat’s Redline Raceway.
Steenholdt would like to thank the following 2018-19 season sponsors for their continued support: Riviera Tyre Service, SS Auto Wholesaler, Dwyer’s Motor Group, Riviera Panels, All Power Marine, Doyle & Shields Motorcycles, Nicholson Hotel, Earth and Soul Pizza – Bairnsdale, and Tint-a-Car – Bairnsdale.
Special thanks go to the team’s crew chief Marc Behan, Steenholdt’s son Cade, Mark Noonan and his son Koby, and everyone else who comes to the track to support the team.
