McLeod enjoying rapid development amid big 2023
Cameron McLeod enjoying different cars amid rapid development
He's the grandson of 1987 Bathurst 1000 winner Peter, son of racer Ryan
Teenager has six Super3 wins, nine of 10 pole positions
Nissan Altima Supercar. BMW M4 GT4 Gen II. MARC II V8. MARC GT. McLaren GT4. Go-kart. Add to that in the last week, Ford FG Falcon Supercar and Holden ZB Commodore Supercar.
Third-generation driver Cameron McLeod has driven it all this year, and the teenager believes it is helping his development amid his first Dunlop Series campaign.
McLeod is the grandson of 1987 Bathurst 1000 winner Peter and son of racer Ryan, but is quickly carving out a reputation as one of the quickest teenagers in Aussie motorsport.
The 18-year-old has been a standout in this year’s Dunlop Series, taking nine of 10 Super3 poles and pushing for the title before an unfortunate double DNF at Sandown.
While the Super3 title is set to head to either Jobe Stewart or Jett Johnson, McLeod has demonstrated raw pace and enjoyed seat time in 2023, and has been quick in everything he’s steered so far.
A maiden Gen2 Supercar test with Walkinshaw Andretti United, albeit 10 laps in Ryan Wood’s Commodore, left McLeod keen for more ahead of next week’s VAILO Adelaide 500.
“I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of people around me to get in a lot of different cars,” McLeod told Supercars.com.
“Woody’s WAU car was really cool, it was a step up with aero, engine performance, little things like that. It was about getting used to it, especially the brakes. It was a great day, even with the 10 laps I got, it was fun.
“I think it’s quite good for me reputation-wise, to adapt and get used to different cars, doing all those races.”
McLeod kicked off the year second in GT4 class and 26th outright on his Dubai 24 Hour debut in a BMW, being up close with the likes of Valentino Rossi and other international stars — an event McLeod cited as his 2023 highlight.
A scary crash for Keith Kassulke robbed McLeod of a Bathurst 12 Hour debut before he set off on his Super3 journey, chalking up six wins and nine poles.
Most recently, McLeod crushed the field in a new MARC GT car at the Gold Coast, before last weekend winning all three Kumho Tyre V8 Touring Cars races at Mount Panorama aboard an ex-Shane van Gisbergen Stone Brothers Racing FG Falcon.
With an eye on 2024, McLeod is keen to focus on the Dunlop Series, and while his plans have yet to be confirmed, the teen has done his chances no harm by his impressive pace across categories and cars this year.
“The MARC Sports Sedan I raced at the Gold Coast, was really quick in a straight line, lots of aero, brakes,” he said.
“I’m enjoying getting in cars, not so much for trophies all the time, but to keep driving.
“All we can do is keep focus on what we’re doing, I’m still learning and there’s a lot more to learn, I’m not at the peak of my career or anything yet.
“That WAU test was a step towards what we want to do next year, we’re not 100 per cent on what we’re doing next year with budgeting and stuff like that.
“The year’s coming to an end but hopefully we’ll know by at least Adelaide.”
McLeod will close out his Dunlop Series campaign at the VAILO Adelaide 500 on November 23-26.
Image Racing Commodore driver Stewart leads NAPA Auto Parts Altima driver Johnson by 192 points with 300 left to win, with McLeod 279 points down in third.
