Cameron makes strong first impression amid scare

Aaron Cameron has made an impressive start to his solo Supercars debut in Melbourne, despite the rookie fighting through his first laps in the hot seat.

The young Victorian was drafted in to replace Aaron Love at Blanchard Racing Team for this weekend’s MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint.

In a big first track day, Cameron cut his first laps on Thursday morning in a ride session before two practice hit-outs, two qualifying sessions and Race 4.

Cameron logged 11 laps in Practice 1, and after putting on a new set of tyres, vaulted to 10th by session’s end.

Drivers classed as rookies are given an extra set of tyres in first practice of Supercars events this year, with Cameron making it count to gain crucial knowledge.

"It's much more calm now, that first one I was really shitting myself prior to it,” Cameron told the broadcast after Practice 1.

"I see these guys in this top category as elite. The Super2 guys are good, but I see it as a big step up, and to do well and to have JC in my corner is good.

"Those first few laps were pretty scary, I was just holding on and I didn't get to do any testing, so you're just trying to find the limits as you go."

The 25-year-old made his Supercars debut in last year’s enduros with BRT, and finished runner-up in last year’s Dunlop Series.

A winner in TCR and S5000, he recently contested Formula Regional in the Middle East, before joining BRT in Sydney.

Now in the hot seat, Cameron has a simple goal in mind — bring the car back in one piece.

“We all know there's a short turnaround to New Zealand, and JB [John Blanchard] and Tim will kill me if I make too much work for the boys,” Cameron said.

"Anything in the '1's, if we can get in the teens, I'll be really happy, that's as simple as it is. If we're in the 20's, yeah great, but I'd love to be in the teens.

"Teens is where I want to be, and where I think we can be as a team, JC did a great job at Sydney in that 10th-13th range, even with bad qualy pace, so once we figure out the qualy stuff we can fight for some good results this year."

Supercars will return to the track for Practice 2 at 1:25pm local time, followed by dual Boost Mobile Qualifying sessions from 3:25pm.

The first of four sprint races, the 19-lap Race 4, will commence at 5:50pm.