Lee Holdsworth has been impressed by the rapid formation of Charlie Schwerkolt’s new racing operation as it continues to ramp up for its maiden V8 Supercars season as a solo entry.
Charlie Schwerkolt announced in November last year that he would be running Holdsworth in a self-built team based in Melbourne, utilising a Triple Eight Commodore.
Since confirming the split from Walkinshaw Racing as a customer operation, the squad has been working flat out to prepare for their Clipsal 500 launch in March.
Work has continued during the festive break with staff recruitment and its factory edging closer to completion.
Aided by the arrival of former Holden Racing Team manager Jeff Grech, who will head up the project, Holdsworth says the team’s transformation from the ground up has been pleasing to watch.
“Its been flat out for our team to get up and running and establish itself from nothing basically,” Holdsworth told Speedcafe.com.
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“We didn’t have any staff at the end of last year apart from Jeff Grech but he has been fantastic.
“Charlie (Schwerkolt) and Jeff (Grech) have been working together really well and they have got a great bunch of people already. We have pretty much got all of our staff for the year and they are very good staff.
“I’m really excited. The workshop is coming along really well.
“I went in there the other day and it has come a long way since in the last year. They have been flat out but it looks great.”
Beginning the new season with a new entity has left Holdsworth unsure as to what to expect come the opening round at the Clipsal 500 from March 3-6.
However, having witnessed the rise of Tekno Autosports’ one car operation over the last three seasons, he is hopeful the team can follow in their footsteps.
“It is a bit hard to know what to expect,” added Holdsworth.
“I think Tekno are certainly our benchmark as to what we are aiming at with the business model.
“The results that they have got shows what potential we have.
“Obviously it didn’t happen for those guys overnight so we are not expecting to come out and blitz the field and be at the level they are at straight away.
“Certainly the potential is there. Once everything gels and I understand the car, I think slowly we will keep progressing further up the field.
“We might surprise ourselves come Clipsal and be on the pace but we are have to be realistic.”
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