Holder teams up with Kennard for Daybreaker
David Holder will be joined by the vastly experienced John Kennard at the season finale Daybreaker Rally, as the Tauranga driver aims to secure 2nd overall in the 2014 Championship. Photo: Euan Cameron
Mount Maunganui driver David Holder will benefit from the experience of John Kennard in the co-driver’s seat of the Stadium Cars Ltd Mitsubishi Evo 8 at the final round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship driven by VINZ, the GoPro Daybreaker Rally.
Holder has turned many heads in his debut season at the top level of New Zealand Rallying, briefly leading the opening round before stringing together four consecutive podium finishes that see him currently occupying the runner up spot In the NZRC standings.
After Mal Peden co-drove with the 25-year old at the series opener, Holder teamed up with Ben Hawkins for the remainder of the season with the pair experiencing success immediately. However Hawkins’ car sickness has become worse over the past two events and particularly at the recent VINZ Goldrush Rally Coromandel, forced Holder to run without pace notes for a large percentage of the event, although the pair battled hard to come home second.
With the decision made to split, the opportunity came for Holder to team up with John Kennard, who has vast experience working with world championship teams prior to teaming up with Hayden Paddon in 2006. The pair have experienced vast success together including three New Zealand Rally Championship titles, victory in the Pacific Cup and the Production World Rally Championship en route to competing in the World Rally Championship this season.
The pairing not only gives Holder the opportunity to tap into the vast knowledge and experience possessed by Kennard, but gives Kennard the opportunity to report back to Paddon, who acts as a mentor to Holder.
The event will offer up unique challenges, starting from Palmerston North at 4am, which will see the first two stages completed in darkness. 12 hours and close to 200km of special stages later, Holder will is aiming to be at the top of the four-way battle for the championship runner up spot.
“To be totally honest, I’m a little nervous about it. The first time John and I will sit together will be in the dark and there is plenty to play for,” says Holder. “But they don’t get much better than John and having the opportunity to learn from him is exciting and no doubt will be beneficial moving forwards. I can’t wait to see what things we can improve on in recce and how the notes will roll out.”
Holder Brothers Racing would like to thank and acknowledge the support of:
Stadium Cars, Gull Fuel, VINZ, Magnum Compliance, Force Automotive, Reaction Racing, Endless Brakes, Prelim, Sew Hot Monograms, Nichibo, Mount Wheel Alignment, Speedy Signs Tauranga, Attentive Design, Jason Gorton Building, Bay Panel Beaters, Tauranga Beaurepaires, Dunlop, Total Lubricants Mt Maunganui and Monit Rally Computers
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