Holder Fast and Spectacular at Rally Whangarei

3rd April 2012

Holder Fast and Spectacular at Rally Whangarei

Young New Zealand Rally driver David Holder dominated the top of the 2wd time sheets with his outright speed while providing some action for the spectators in the International Rally of Whangarei held over the weekend.

Despite being his first National Rally Championship event, 7th rally, and only his 3rd rally using pacenotes, 23 year old Holder quickly showed his talent by storming through the opening four Saturday morning gravel stages to arrive at the mid-day service as the leading 2wd (two wheel drive) driver overall, with a 25second lead over the nearest New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) competitor, Marcus Van Klink, and a 1min 27sec buffer over the 3rd NZRC 2wd car of Fiesta ST driver Josh Marston.

“I always knew David was fast,” said co-driver, James Holder, “And we were quietly confident that we could surprise a few people, but to be fair we never expected to be as fast as we were! To lead all of the 2wd Asia Pacific Championship cars, the Fiestas and the very quick Marcus van Klink in his Group B Rx7 was awesome, we’re stoked!”

However trouble struck early in the afternoon stages, launching over a bridge jump with the Holder Brothers rally car flat out in top gear ended with the car flying high and landing heavily, bouncing the car down the road the next 50metres.

“We had lots of room to brake but the car rebounded a bit more than I expected” said David. “I slowed as much as I could and then threw the car into the corner…unfortunately the corner threw us out again! We ended up landing softly in a deep muddy ditch.”

Not ones to give up easy, the mud covered Holder Brothers got the spectators on board to help them get the car out and they continued on, recovering to set a stage record on SS7 and finish the day’s stages strongly.

Sunday dawned a new day and with renewed vigor the team set out to capitalize on their day one pace. With growing confidence over every kilometre Holder was the outright leading 2wd driver on all of the first three stages, equaling a stage record and going into the fourth stage with a 30second lead over the nearest competitor.

Unfortunately trouble struck the team again, beginning with a puncture on stage 12 and then a rally ending mistake that left the teams’ car stuck and stranded with the brothers unable to complete the day.

“We just needed the road to be a bit wider.” reckons driver David. “Unfortunately there was no room for error on that corner and the back of the car went over the edge sending us down a grassy bank. We were unhurt and the car is still looking pretty sweet so it could have been worse to be fair.”

After an eventful weekend, in which the Holder Brothers can walk away with plenty of positives and their heads held high, the team are now looking ahead to gather the resources to be competitive in the next round of the National Championship, The Racetech Rally of Wairarapa to be held over the 28th and 29th of April.

“We would love to have a crack at the Championship in a Fiesta ST” says James, “But at this stage we are just focusing at getting to events rally by rally in the trusty Toyota Levin. We are very grateful for all our supporters and especially Rally New Zealand for the Rising Stars Scholarship.”

Holder Brothers Racing would like to thank the following companies for their ongoing support:
Attentive Design, Mount Wheel Alignment and Service Center, Bay Panelbeaters, Mount Repco, Speedy Signs, Mount EDL, Sew Hot Monograms, Kayne Barrie Motorsport, Monit Rally Computers and also Rising Stars Scholarship supporters, Gull Fuel, Dunlop Tyres and Rally New Zealand.

ENDS

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