Lee Holdsworth was relieved to simply finish Race 1 of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at Phillip Island after bagging a podium which puts him back in the series lead.

Holdsworth ran second to Chaz Mostert as the rain poured at the Island, until he ceded the place to Luke King at MG on Lap 6.

The Alfa Romeo driver had only just caught a huge slide which saw him nearly leave the road at the high-speed Stoner Corner (Turn 3), before eventually taking the chequered flag eight seconds behind King and a full 40 seconds back from Mostert.

“I’m just happy I could bring it home because I had about 10 moments where I was fully crossed up through Turn 3,” recalled Holdsworth, who won the opening race of Round 1 at Symmons Plains in January.

“I think I put the rear out on the dirt at one moment, I was full rallycross, so it was good to bring home a trophy and we’ve had a fun time.

“I was glad just to get the race over, to be honest.”

For King, a second placing represented his best finish in the category so far, although he admits he has work to do to close the gap to his Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia stablemate, Mostert.

“Far out, I miffed the start there, I don’t know what I was doing, but I managed to get back past Lee,” said the Central Coast-based driver, who had qualified on the front row.

“He made it probably pretty easy for me, I think.

“We had a fair bit of pace on him, but just couldn’t catch Chaz – too good for us – so we’ll have to see what he’s doing different.”

Race 2 of Round 2 of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia is scheduled to start tomorrow at 11:10 local time/AEDT.