The introduction of the new Gen3 regulations for this season’s Repco Supercars Championship season has rookie Matt Stone Racing driver Cameron Hill eager for the year ahead.
Hill makes the step up to the main game to partner the experienced Jack Le Brocq at Matt Stone Racing following an impressive maiden Dunlop Super2 Series campaign to finish fifth and second in the Rookie of the Year standings.
The rise to the Repco Supercars Championship follows an impressive resume in the junior formulas including the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series and Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, a title he won in 2021.
Joining previous Dunlop Super2 Series winning squad Triple Eight Race Engineering last year for his maiden Supercars drive, Hill scored three podiums including at the Townsville and Adelaide street circuits.
A co-drive alongside Chris Pither in the Coca-Cola PremiAir Racing Holden ZB Commodore followed at the Repco Bathurst 1000 where a mechanical malady dropped the pair out of a strong finishing position, particularly on Hill’s debut in the event.
Now making his full-time debut at Newcastle, Hill races one of Matt Stone Racing’s Chevrolet Camaros sponsored by Truck Assist and personal sponsor Supaglass Industries.
Shakedown and testing has enabled Hill to come to grips with the Camaro before the challenging Newcastle street circuit, which returns to the Repco Supercars Championship schedule for the first time since 2019.
Hill believes the level playing provided by the new Gen3 regulations will be advantageous to him as is the team surrounding him through its atmosphere and culture.
The Thrifty Newcastle 500 gets underway on Friday.
QUOTES
Cameron Hill
Truck Assist Racing, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
“I’m pretty excited,” said Hill.
“There are some nerves, but I’m thinking that’s probably a good thing considering the enormity of it all. If I wasn’t nervous, something wouldn’t be right.
“I’ve had a decent amount of time testing in the car. It’s been good to get laps and the great thing is the new car has almost run faultlessly – there have been a couple of little teething things we’ve been very quick to get on top of.
“On the last test day, we did some long runs and I felt pretty comfortable, but it’s going to be a completely different ball game when we get to Newcastle to do two 250km races.
“There’s definitely an element of level playing field, I think that’s the way everyone is looking at it. This is the most level it’s been ever.
“The team is awesome. I’ve enjoyed gelling with them as it’s a similar vibe to how I’ve done my racing previously, entering my own family-run operation and now I’m in Matt’s team, which has the same atmosphere with an awesome culture. All the personnel there are super passionate and really want to see the best for Matt Stone Racing. It’s going to be a great year working with these guys.
“It’s been good working with Jack (Le Brocq). He is really easy and good to get along with. For me as a rookie, I’m lucky to have a teammate who has been in the game for a couple of years now, he can impart some of those really specific driver things to me. It is definitely an advantage.
“I think it’s a good thing I drove less of the previous generation compared to someone like Jack, who notices the difference between the ZB and the Gen3 Camaro more. Whereas for me, the Super2 VF didn’t have as much downforce anyway so the jump is not as big. It’s still a Supercar in its nature and DNA, so for me I haven’t had to re-learn anything, just refinement with small adaptations.
“It’s not like I have a heap of habits that I need to get rid of, I’m starting from a cleaner sheet and hopefully I can pick up what works for Gen3 quickly.”
