Qualifying will be an area Cameron Hill and Matt Stone Racing will target at the season-ending VAILO Adelaide 500 this weekend.
Completing his rookie Repco Supercars Championship season in Adelaide, Hill is aiming to end the event in a strong position to enter his 2024 campaign with plenty of momentum.
Identifying his qualifying as an area to build, Adelaide’s extra practice session and spread scheduling compared to Supercars events will be invaluable to Hill. As proven earlier in the year at Tasmania, qualifying set up a season-best weekend for Hill as he qualified inside the top 10 to finish eighth.
Hill enters Adelaide with plenty of confidence from his last performance on Gold Coast after climbing 10 positions on the notoriously tough street circuit. Adelaide is just as demanding as it rewards those drivers to get it right, but it can just as easily punish and is not helped by the warm conditions generally experienced.
A top 10 position in the Teams’ Championship is also up for grabs for Matt Stone Racing where Hill will play a crucial role alongside teammate Jack Le Brocq.
Not only is the focus for Hill on finishing this year strongly, but it also begins the build up to his 2024 campaign starting in February at the legendary Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, Bathurst.
The VAILO Adelaide 500 begins on Thursday, November 23 with opening practice.
QUOTES
Cameron Hill
#35 Truck Assist Racing, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
“I’m looking forward to Adelaide because I’ve got 11 Supercars events behind me and I felt like I finished strong on the Gold Coast, so I go into Adelaide in a very good headspace to give a real crack before the slate gets cleaned for next year,” said Hill.
“It’s a precursor to next year, to finish this season on a high is the goal.
“I’m not fighting for any championship honours other than trying to finish strongly in the teams’ title and there is still a bit to play for there. Though, with the new live pit lane arrangement for next year all we have to do as a team is to shoot out of the blocks at Bathurst and we can get to the right end of pit lane.
“For me, I’ve really enjoyed the last few events particularly the racing side of it as I believe we have a good package as we’re always able to move our way forward. The thing for me is if we qualify strongly in Adelaide, I don’t see any reason why we can’t race out of the front and I don’t think it’s out of the question.
“I’m really focused on the process of the weekend by rolling out strong on Thursday and getting the car in the window for qualifying. There’s also the luxury of an extra practice session as well, so we can do some prep for the race. There will be plenty of track time, which is always good. I was probably a bit lean on track time at Gold Coast and started on the back foot, but with more sessions in Adelaide it will give us more time to find the rhythm.
“I’ve had a lot of good rounds this year and that’s the mentality I’m bringing in.
“It’s an awesome event. I’m keen to get there, it’s a super challenging track, which is very rewarding when you get it right. I’m just looking forward to having a weekend at the races and finishing the year off with a high.”
SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 23
Practice 1 3:45pm (4:15pm AEDT)
Friday, November 24
Practice 2 12:35pm (1:05pm AEDT)
Qualifying 5:35pm (6:05pm AEDT)
Saturday, November 25
Practice 3 9:45am (10:15am AEDT)
Top 10 Shootout 12:05pm (12:35 AEDT)
Race 27 2:50pm (3:30pm AEDT)
Sunday, November 26
Qualifying 12:05pm (12:35pm AEDT)
Race 28 2:45pm (3:15pm AEDT)
