The Porsche Carrera Cup Australia heads to the country’s newest permanent race track, The Bend Motorsport Park for Round 6 this weekend, and Canberra driver Cameron Hill says it’s a venue that has challenged even the most accomplished drivers.
Hill rated last year’s Tailem Bend round as one of the highlights of his 2018 season, but said it’s one of the hardest tracks he’s had to learn.
“It might not have been our strongest weekend on the results sheet, but I felt that our team performance at The Bend round last year was one of our very best,” Hill said.
“Because it was such a new facility, there was very little in-car footage I could use to prepare for the event. It’s also the type of circuit that takes time to understand – there are lots of different types of corners, and some elevation changes which make it tricky to judge racing lines.
“It’s a complex track that rewards bravery, commitment and a smart approach to preparation.
“Last year, we started on the back foot because we weren’t able to do any testing beforehand, but we were still inside the top six and very close to the front-running pace, which is why I rated it as one of our best performances of the season.”
Hill and his small family team have left no stone unturned in their preparations for this year’s event, making the trip to South Australia to complete a test day last week.
“We used the test day to learn more about the track; I’m glad we made the effort, because it’s changed since last time we were there,” Hill said.
“The surface was still very new last year, but now it’s been used a lot more so there’s a clearer racing line with more grip.
“The racing will be good – it’s a track that suits the Porsches, and there are plenty of overtaking zones and places where it’s easy to make mistakes.”
Hill’s recent string of strong results has brought him into calculations for a coveted entry into the Porsche International Junior Programme Shootout, an event that brings together the most outstanding young Porsche racers from around the world, and offers a position in Porsche’s racing programme to the ultimate winner. The Australian representative for the Shootout will be decided this weekend.
Despite the possibility of a life-changing opportunity, Hill is remaining focused on the task at hand.
“Just like any other round, we’re all putting in a massive effort but a lot would have to go my way for me to win the prize, so I’m not getting ahead of myself,” Hill concluded.
Carrera Cup Round 6 Schedule
Friday, 23 August
10:00 – Practice 1 (25 min)
14:30 – Practice 2 (25 min)
Saturday, 24 August
10:55 – Qualifying (20 min)
14:15 – Race 1 (10 laps)
Sunday, 25 August
9:50 – Race 2 (21 laps)
12:30 – Race 3 (11 laps)
TV Coverage
All races will be shown live on Fox Sports 506 and streamed on Kayo Sports.
