HOLIHAN & MAWER START NEW TEAM
After initially wanting to take a year off from motorsport. Driver coach and two-time world time attack champion, Barton Mawer, decided to bring back his father’s formula ford team from the late 90’s aboard a Spectrum 011K with help from Ellery Motorsport Enterprises and Borland Racing Developments down south in Victoria.
Over the past three seasons, Holihan had struggled in the formula ford fiesta category aboard a Mygale SJ12 with his former customer team, only finding the podium on several occasions. Whilst in previous years, Holihan had been extremely competitive in the 1600 and Historic Formula Ford scene, unfortunately he faced road blocks in the Formula Ford Fiesta category that were out of his control.
After taking some time off to reflect on his racing career over 2020, Holihan has decided to return. During his time away from the track he realised his passion and hunger to race again had never left him after leaving the Anglo Australian Motorsport team. Together with Mawer, the two decided it was time for Holihan to go back to what he knows best and challenge the Kent1600 category at the 2021 NSW Championships.
Speaking with Mawer he said, “I’m doing what I think is best for Dan and the team around him. He was mega quick a few years ago in Historic and 1600 Formula Ford racing. So we looked around and struck a deal with Luke Ellery from Ellery Motorsport Enterprises and Mike Borland from Borland Racing Developments to build him a car in the 1600 category. Brendan Jones has won the 1600 category in Victoria five years running aboard a Spectrum 011K. So, we’re trying to emulate the same success with our new team here in New South Wales.”
This season won’t be easy by any means as Holihan’s former team, Anglo Australian Motorsport, have dominated the local New South Wales Kent1600 scene for many years. But, with years of racing experience between both Holihan and Mawer, they are hoping to give the 14-time championship winning Anglo Australian Motorsport team a run for their money.
Holihan has spent his time off racing karts during the week and even started training in the martial art, Muay Thai, to keep him sharp and fit. If he’s going to win the New South Wales State Kent 1600 Championship and John Smith Club Champion Trophy, now is his shot to do it.
Mawer said, “I believe in Dan and back his abilities to become a great racing driver in the future. This is why we’ve started a formula ford race team together to help rebuild his confidence from the ground up again.”
Holihan has remained quiet for over a year whilst working on the new project and but the 32 year old Sydney-sider recently commented, “I’ve always looked up to guys like Bart, Luke, Mike and Brendan. The one car that seems to be unstoppable down in Victoria and around the world is the Spectrum 011K. Mike doesn’t have many cars in New South Wales in the Kent1600 scene, so, I’m going to give him his best shot at winning a New South Wales State Championship. It’s a completely new team we’ve started from scratch and built it from the ground up, with Bart supporting me as my coach and the crew coming onboard I know we have every chance of being contenders for the championship as a team. I also can’t thank my amazing girlfriend Brooke enough for being in my corner throughout this time. She’s believed in me this whole time brought me out of rock bottom, along with my family and friends. Bring it on!”
Unfortunately Daniel Holihan and his DHR team will miss the opening round of the NSW Formula Ford Championships at Sydney Motorsport Park on April 9th due to logistical issues and budget constraints, but the team will be all set and ready to roll by Round 2 at Wakefield Park on the 22nd of May in Goulburn, country New South Wales.
Get your tickets online or at the gate and we hope to see you down there track side for what is to be an exciting formula ford new south wales state series season!
