Campbell rekindles Cauchi connection

Familiarity is helping fast-track Matt Campbell’s preparation for next month’s Great Race.

Factory Porsche driver Campbell, who will race with David Reynolds, recently arrived in Australia.

The 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia champion will make his fourth Bathurst start.

It was in 2017 with Triple Eight that Campbell had his best chance to date with Shane van Gisbergen.

Despite a number of knocks, van Gisbergen had the #97 in the lead late on.

However, a shock error at a late Safety Car restart, followed by an off at The Chase, ended their hopes.

In the background was David Cauchi, a long-time Triple Eight engineer, who now skippers Penrite Racing.

Cauchi was engineer on Jamie Whincup's entry when Campbell was with Triple Eight.

Campbell drove a Supercar for the first time in 10 months at Tuesday’s Winton test.

There, he reunited with Cauchi, who has spearheaded Penrite Racing’s progress to the front.

Reynolds is comfortably in the top 10 overall, and has six podiums to his name.

“It’s been a few years since we were at Triple Eight together,” Campbell said of Cauchi.

“It’s quite cool to work together again.

“Coming back to the team, there are a lot of familiar faces and it’s quite easy to slot in.

Campbell finished fifth with Triple Eight in 2017

“They’ve made huge steps forward with the car.

"I don’t see why we can’t be a lot further up the grid in Bathurst."

Warwick-raised Campbell has one hand on the 2022 IMSA GTD Pro class trophy.

He will return to the United States to try and clinch the title at Road Atlanta.

The Victorian will then return Down Under to make his third Bathurst start for team Braeside.

Campbell raced with Todd Kelly in 2016, before linking up with Andre Heimgartner last year.

Given his busy overseas schedule, Campbell was a notable omission from the Sandown co-driver session.

However, with a Winton test in tow, Campbell believes he is better-placed year-on-year to be competitive.

“I don’t think it’s a disadvantage,” he said of missing ride and co-driver days.

“This year, we’re in a better situation than we were last year.

“Last year, we were more or less straight into the Bathurst 1000.

“It turned out okay in the race, I was happy with how it went.

“This year, get a full test day today, which is a fantastic lead-up two weeks away from the 1000.

“It really does help a lot.”

Tickets for the Repco Bathurst 1000 are available on Supercars.com and Ticketek.