Bathurst V6 wildcard 'looking positive' for Campbell

Matt Campbell says “everything’s looking positive” for him to be part of Triple Eight’s planned 2018 Bathurst 1000 wildcard with Holden’s new V6, twin-turbo Supercars engine.

Campbell contested the PIRTEK Enduro Cup with Shane van Gisbergen for the factory Holden outfit last year, but his 2018 Porsche GT program precludes a full return.

He has been replaced by another Porsche man, dual Le Mans 24 Hours winner Earl Bamber, but Roland Dane has outlined V6 wildcard plans that currently include Bathurst and Campbell. 

The 22-year-old said the early indications were good that he would be part of the entry.

“I was only talking to Roland again last week, talked a bit further about it but there's so much to organise and deal with in that time,” Campbell said at the Bathurst 12 Hour.

“That's still I think the plan. We're still working towards it.

“There's no date clash or anything like that at this stage, but he has to work through a lot more, obviously to confirm the other drivers and everything like that.

“Everything's looking positive but I'm not saying yes or no because a lot can change in that time because it's so far away.

“Something could crop up with Porsche or maybe that [wildcard] program is all done quite late, but I'm sure it will happen for him, no doubt about that.

“We just have to keep working together and chipping away about that. But obviously we've talked about it a lot.”

Dane has publicly targeted three wildcard starts for the V6 this year before its full introduction in 2019, with the Great Race - where the V6 last ran in demonstrations in October in Triple Eight's Sandman ride car - the big-ticket item.

Asked by Supercars.com whether his talks with Dane included other possible wildcards, Campbell said it was “mainly focusing on Bathurst.

“My focus and time is spent with Porsche and that's where I want to be and that's what I want to do.

“I don't want to spend too much time in Australia doing other things like that, but if I can do something like hopefully the 1000, that's great.

“It's a massive event, it's a home race and something I love doing. I've done it for the last couple of years.

“Obviously the three [Enduro Cup] races this year weren't possible with date clashes but would love to come back as a wildcard especially, I think that would be a great opportunity.”

Campbell switches from Porsche’s one-make Supercup, in which he finished third as a rookie last year, to GT racing with factory-supported customers in 2018.

The Nurburgring 24 Hour in May is the only event that has been announced by Porsche, and Campbell reiterated that the German manufacturer’s wishes were his priority.

“Obviously they come first,” he said.

“[My races] could be anywhere in the world. Obviously being in the type of programme I'm in, it's not so much factory stuff but factory supported teams.

“It's mainly in that sort of area with customer teams and just racing everywhere.

“I can't say anything further regarding the other programmes but I can say it's looking very, very exciting and happy with what I'e been given.”