Manufacturer Holden Team Manager Jeff Grech Chassis Holden VF Commodore | Team Principal Charlie Schwerkolt Race Drivers 18. Lee Holdsworth Debut 2013 | |
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Charlie Schwerkolt Racing (also known as CS Racing or Team 18, and commercially as Preston Hire Racing) is an Australian motor racing team that currently competes in the Supercars Championship, The team's current driver is Lee Holdsworth.
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Background
The team is owned by Gold Coast businessman Charlie Schwerkolt, who previously had a shareholding in Dick Johnson Racing. When the relationship between Schwerkolt and Dick Johnson broke down at the end of 2010, as part of the split Schwerkolt retained ownership of one of the two Racing Entitlement Contracts (RECs).
Schwerkolt had attempted to conclude a deal to run a fourth car out of Ford Performance Racing with James Courtney driving, but after Courtney signed to drive with the Holden Racing Team, the deal collapsed. The REC was instead leased to Dick Johnson Racing for James Moffat's entry for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Satellite team
With the rules governing the use of Racing Entitlement Contracts dictating that Schwerkolt could only lease his to one party for two years, he either had to sell it, lease it to another party, or use it himself. Schwerkolt decided on the latter and came to an agreement with Ford Performance Racing to operate a fully supported customer car as a satellite of the main FPR team in much the same manner as Rod Nash Racing. Alex Davison drove the car in 2013 and Jack Perkins in 2014.
For 2015, Lee Holdsworth became the team's driver. The team had originally intended to remain in their existing relationship with Ford Performance Racing (now known as Prodrive Racing Australia), but they were replaced by Super Black Racing as the Ford team's second customer partnership. Instead, the team became a satellite team to the Holden Racing Team, and ran a Holden VF Commodore.
Independent team
For 2016, Charlie Schwerkolt Racing is operating as an independent entity, using a Triple Eight Race Engineering-built Commodore. Jeff Grech, the former Holden Racing Team team manager, is running the team. The title sponsor of the team is Preston Hire, who joined the team during the 2015 season.
V8 Supercar drivers
The following is a list of drivers who have driven for the team in V8 Supercars, in order of their first appearance. Drivers who only drove for the team on a part-time basis are listed in italics.