Following an impressive opening to his maiden Repco Supercars Championship season, Cameron Hill is eager to build on this at the upcoming endurance events starting at the Penrite Sandown 500.
Hill has already achieved a top five qualifying result and a best race result of eighth in his first season as a full-time Supercars driver, but now he will transition to endurance mode by teaming with Super2 race winner Jaylyn Robotham.
This year marks the return of the famed Penrite Sandown 500 to the calendar after an absence of three seasons and will be Hill’s first Supercars endurance race as a primary driver.
Sandown has provided plenty of action in the past and continues to present many challenges to this day. From its frequent surface changes, kerbs, tight confines, heavy stops and changeable Melbourne weather, the event is one of the toughest on the calendar.
The removal of Compulsory Pit Stops for this year’s event enhances the variety of strategy options.
It’s been a rapid rise to be part of the Repco Supercars Championship grid for Hill as he will use his experience from not only this season, but also from his Bathurst 1000 debut last year.
Hill and seasoned driver Chris Pither were within sight of the top 10 for PremiAir Racing when a power steering leak forced a late pit stop. Robotham also made his Supercars debut at Bathurst to finish on the lead lap in 18th.
Hill and Robotham have built a strong working relationship at test days prior to Sandown, but still go in as underdogs compared to their more experienced rivals.
Endurance races are events where young drivers can shine and it’s this that is fuelling Hill after signing a multi-year extension to remain at Matt Stone Racing.
Despite this being the first endurance for the Gen3 Supercars, Hill has no concerns regarding reliability and expects nothing to change regarding the pace of the event.
The Penrite Sandown 500 action begins on Friday with three practice sessions including one for co-drivers. This is followed by another practice session, qualifying and Top 10 Shootout on Saturday, while a 20-minute warm up leads into the 500km race on Sunday.
Schedule
Friday, September 15
Practice 1 10:45am
Practice 2 (co-drivers only) 12:40pm
Practice 3 3:45pm
Saturday, September 16
Practice 4 10:45am
Qualifying Race 23 1:40pm
Top 10 Shootout 5:20pm
Sunday, September 17
Warm Up 10:10am
Race 23 500km 2:15pm
QUOTES
Cameron Hill
#35 Truck Assist Racing, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
“I’m really keen to have my first enduro as a main driver,” said Hill.
“It should be a lot of fun. Jaylyn (Robotham) and I really get along, we’re similar in our stature as well as how we drive the car, so that’s good. The enduros are always the events where the little guys pluck away all day and end up somewhere near the front.
“We are the underdogs, which is a tag I don’t mind having. We can just focus on our own race and try not to get caught up in anyone else’s mess. That will be the biggest thing.
“It will be the first Supercars race of the year for the co-drivers, Sandown has been a pretty gnarly place in the past that throws up a few surprises. If we can just stay out of trouble and run our own race, that is sometimes enough to put you in a good position.
“If there was anywhere this year where we will need to bust the wets out, we’d have all circled Sandown as the most likely at the start of the season. It can throw up surprises with the weather, it can be raining when the radar says it’s clear and do the opposite. That’ll be something the team as well as us as drivers will have to keep on top of.
“It’s certainly not an easy race, nothing is straightforward. It’s all about minimising mistakes and being consistent. Car speed is always key.
“It’s good to be heading in with more seat time under my belt as well, especially the 250km races, which will all come in handy.
“It will be hard and fast pretty much all day. Whichever drivers and teams execute the best will get the result.”
