Holdsworth hungry for first Bathurst bid with WAU

Lee Holdsworth is relishing being back in a Supercar as he prepares for his first competitive outing since last year’s Bathurst 1000.

Holdsworth will drive alongside Chaz Mostert with Walkinshaw Andretti United at December’s Repco Bathurst 1000 in February.

Warren Luff, who finished third in Bathurst last year, was retained by the squad and will compete with Bryce Fullwood.

Holdsworth drove the #25 Mobil 1 Appliances Online Commodore at Sydney Motorsport Park at the official Bathurst test on Tuesday.

“It's always good to get back in a Supercar,” Holdsworth told Supercars.com.

“It's been a while, this year hasn't done us any favours, but it’s great to be in the #25 WAU car and doing some laps.

“It's not long until Bathurst and I’ve been pretty excited about this, it's probably the only thing I've been excited about all year.”

Holdsworth last raced a Supercar in anger at Mount Panorama in 2020, when he scored a surprise provisional pole for the Great Race.

However, he was left without a full-time drive for the 2021 season when Tickford Racing downscaled to three cars.

He was a part of the Walkinshaw Racing stable in 2015 and has competed in 475 Supercars races and 213 rounds.

“There's a lot of muscle memory, but you also want to be on the pace,” he said.

“That always concerns you when you've been out of the car, but I feel pretty comfortable, everything feels quite familiar.

“I've done some laps in this car this year, in evaluation days, 10 laps here and there, so it doesn't feel foreign to me, which is great.

“Adam [De Borre, engineer] and Chaz have been great, they have given me laps today.

“It's just nice to be back in the saddle and getting some laps under the belt for the big one.”

WAU has found form in recent weeks in Sydney, with Mostert racing from 26th to third in Race 25 before coming agonisingly short of a podium at last weekend’s BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint.

Holdsworth was excited by WAU’s progression throughout the season, with Mostert scoring two podiums at February’s Repco Mt Panorama 500.

“These guys are still trying to fine-tune the car here, and SMSP is a very hard place to really nail that," he said.

“The cars that have rolled out here fast have remained fast, and WAU are probably still trying to find that sweet spot.

“But it gives me a lot of confidence on how they performed in Bathurst early in the year, so we know we can always revert back to that set-up.

Holdsworth scored provisional pole in Bathurst last year

"I have every bit of faith in these guys, they always have a great strategy. I think we will be quick and definitely be in the mix.

“Bathurst requires a good car with good balance, and a lot of confidence.

“We will have to wait and see how the confidence is and the balance once we're there, but I'm feeling good about it.”

This year's Repco Bathurst 1000 will be run on December 5 as the 2021 season finale.

Prior to the Great Race, there will be six days of on track action for 10 different categories. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

The Repco Supercars Championship will resume this weekend at the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight.

Every session of the event will be broadcast live on Foxtel (Fox Sports 506) and streamed on Kayo.

The Seven Network will provide live free to air coverage of the event.

Tickets for the event are on sale now.