TEAM 18 PROFILE“We are completely solo at the moment, we are not
getting any data off anyone. Lee and Chris have gone
down their own path and I think they are headed the
right way.
“We are probably the only single-car team without
data sharing on pitlane right now, so I think we are
punching above our weight that way.
“Our goal at the start of the year was to finish 10th
in the championship and if we achieve that we will be
really punching above our weight.”
In a championship where pitlane time is as crucial as
qualifying speed, it has been a sore point.
The team shares a boom with the third Brad Jones
Racing entry, the Cooldrive car of Tim Blanchard.
Because one half of the crew is in Albury and the
other half in Melbourne, practice time is limited and
that means time gained on the track can sometimes be
lost in pitlane.
“Some of the pitstops have been fantastic and some
haven’t been so good,” Schwerkolt admits.
“Brad and I have talked about it. We just have to work
together to get the right results.
“I’d love to have my own boom but that’s against the
rules. We just have to work together to improve and
improve, that’s all there is to it.”
Holdsworth is the other piece of Schwerkolt’s puzzle.The horror 96g Darwin crash means their relationship
transcends the normal driver-owner connection.
Schwerkolt is conscious how tough a run Holdsworth
has had in recent years. Not only Darwin, but two major
accidents while with Erebus Motorsport and a roll (albeit
soft) into the Barbagallo sand in 2015 in the first year
of their relationship.
“This is probably his best year in about five years since
Stone Brothers Racing I would think. Lee’s grown and
grown this year, his confidence is coming back, he’s get-
ting quicker,” Schwerkolt enthuses.
“I have all the faith in him... you’d have to ask him,
but I think he is very happy with the team.”
The factory is big enough to have more racing cars
based there. Schwerkolt concedes that might make
sense even next year if the finances add up, but he has
no interest in bringing on a pay driver for the sake of it.
It would have to be the right driver and the right deal
to make it happen.
“I have some incredible people on my car, some incred-
ible people behind me, and incredible people within the
team as well,” he concludes.
“I am very fortunate to have such good people in my
life. I thoroughly enjoy what I do and hopefully continue
to go up the ladder and get success with Lee. Bring it on.
Can’t wait.”Jeff Grech returned to
Supercars as team manager
at Team 18.
Lee Holdsworth
has found a heppy
home in Supercars
at Team 18.