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Australia

APR: Garry Holt race notes

HOLT CLOSES ON SERIES LEAD AFTER ACTION PACKED After showing his regular bout of blistering speed throughout the entire race weekend, Sydney driver Garry Holt has edged closer to the lead of the Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship ...

HOLT CLOSES ON SERIES LEAD AFTER ACTION PACKED

After showing his regular bout of blistering speed throughout the entire race weekend, Sydney driver Garry Holt has edged closer to the lead of the Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship after a strong weekend at Oran Park Raceway west of Sydney.

Holt -- driving his regular Century 21 Real Estate Racing Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution - took home sixth, first and second place finishes respectively out of the weekend's three races, and inched 10 points closer to series point's leader Peter Floyd with two rounds remaining.

After qualifying a strong third place on a track where past success had been forthcoming, Holt made an excellent start to jump into second place with a bold move on the grass around Mazda driver Rick Shaw. Holt then settled into a battle for the lead with Chris Alajajian, before race stewards decreed the Century 21 car had jumped the start, ordering Holt to pit lane to serve a drive through penalty.

In the firm belief he was innocent, Holt stayed out as long as possible before eventually serving his drive through penalty on the sixth lap. After running as low as 14th after the penalty, 6th place after a storming drive was a solid result.

A review of the in car footage after the race proved Holt's innocence, however, Stewards apologizing the to the driver after the event yet unfortunately unable to reverse the penalty imposed on the Lancer.

Race two was even more spectacular; Holt made a blinding start and leaped into second place by the end of the opening lap. After assuming the lead on lap 3, Holt ran away from the 26-car field to take a commanding two second victory.

The third and final 15 lapper was yet another drama filled affair. After assuming the lead early, a lapped competitor with thoughts more focused on their own race rather than that of the leaders interrupted the dice at the front, holding Holt up for a number of corners and allowing leader Rick Shaw to make a break in front after a terrific dice.

Holt eventually finished a strong second, capping off a weekend which saw a strong points haul from the Century 21 team.

"It wasn't a bad weekend overall," Holt said at the end of the meeting. "We have moved closer to the lead in the championship points with two rounds remaining. It should be a great fight for the title and we are in with a real shot at it."

Holt, however, was disappointed with the third race after being held up by lapped traffic.

"It was disappointing that the lapped driver showed no respect for the blue flags and the fact that we were having a great battle for the lead," he said, referring to the early race dice with Rick Shaw.

"Ultimately, it cost us a shot at a race victory, but at least we were the first of the real championship contenders home to give us a good points boost."

The Australian Performance Cars now stay garaged for almost three months, the penultimate round of the Championship not scheduled until November in Tasmania -- the series' first visit to the Apple Isle.

Holt now closes to within 19 points of the series leader -- and a massive 55 points ahead of third place Mark King - with two rounds remaining.

Century 21 Real Estate, Orix, Eastern Creek Karts, 2UE and Sarina Smash Repairs are proudly supporting Century 21 Real Estate Racing's 2005 Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship campaign.

-rt-

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