Use good drills. Drill a pilot hole first. You could use a pointed object to create a starting point instead of a punch. Drill slowly with only enough pressure to keep the drill cutting. Ideally some wood behind would help when the drill breaks through and reduce the chances of cracks. A curved surface makes this difficult! Shaping a piece of wood to match the curve maybe? You could use a tough tape instead to give a little support. Don’t rush the drilling. You are not on a production line with time constraints.
