DSO McConville adds Porsche role

V8 Supercars Driving Standards Observer Cameron McConville is confident he can manage that role alongside his new position as Porsche Cars Australia Motorsport Manager.

McConville, the former V8 Supercars racer who took over from Tomas Mezera as DSO this year, will start the process of succeeding long-time local Porsche motorsport boss Jamie Blaikie at the Winton 360 next week.

It will be the first test of his belief that he can do both roles, although he admits he will reconsider if necessary. McConville will then fly solo at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Armor All Gold Coast 600 rounds of the Carrera Cup.

“There is a little bit of juggling involved, but my intention is that it certainly won’t compromise my V8 Supercar commitment,” McConville told v8supercars.com.au.

McConville will have significant Porsche logistical support on the ground at race meetings which he believes should help him maintain his DSO focus. The big change will come during the week, he said.

“Instead of getting off the plane on Monday and chilling out a little bit, I will be jumping in the car and heading straight to (Porsche Cars Australia head office in)  Collingwood to see the wash-up from the Porsche round and start planning for 2014 and the Carrera Cup.”

McConville sought the blessing of V8 Supercars before taking the new role, which continues his long relationship with the German sports car marque; He won the 1996 GT Production championship in a Porsche 911 RSCS, served as Carrera Cup DSO and is currently Race Director for the category. He has also been an instructor at the Porsche Sports Driving School.

“Porsche is an exciting car company at an exciting time,” he enthused. “There is a new 911 cup car coming next year and there’s some new models on the way too. But having said that I have learned a lot doing the DSO role for V8s and I don’t intend to compromise that.

“Being the DSO was always a part of a longer term plan and my intention now is to get through to Christmas and see where everything is at.”

McConville admitted the DSO role – which covers the main championship and the Dunlop Series – had been harder in some respects than he expected.

“It has been tough, not so much dealing with the drivers grizzling because I can cope with that. It’s more about being consistent. In race control everything happens very, very quickly … and you are watching every single car throughout every single lap of every race which makes it very hard.”

One perk of the new job is a Porsche to motor to rounds in. Despite the 911 being the racing model, McConville is plumping for a Cayenne SUV.

“That’s more my style with the kids and the dog. I might even be driving up to Winton in one!”