Love puts 'brutal' period to bed in stunning return

It was arguably the feel-good story of the weekend, and Aaron Love's winning return to the DUNLOP Super2 Series with Eggleston Motorsport certainly didn't go unnoticed.

But perhaps more importantly, it answered the questions that had been lingering in the 24-year-old's mind since his unceremonious departure from Supercars in February 2025.

When all the stars align, he can do the job.

That was proven by his haul of two pole positions, one in a Top Five Shootout and the other the closest in Super2 Series history, which was backed up by two podiums and a round win.

Save for two poor starts, Love barely put a foot wrong, displaying the mature approach he'd flagged to Supercars.com pre-event, and picking up the best possible results available.

"It helps boost a lot of stocks for myself, personally and externally. But just for myself, it answers a few of those questions raised after those 12 to 14 months I had in the main series," the Perth local told media.

"Obviously the downturn of that was probably just as brutal. So close that door, close that chapter, and move on to the next, and here we are.

"So to come out swinging where we are, and deliver for myself and get those results, have that pace, and be able to translate that, albeit some small errors and clean up a few areas, it does give a huge boost of confidence.

"Knowing that what we're going down, and what we're doing to tick those boxes and working, so we've just got to stick to our guns and keep building from there."

Love is contesting the 2026 Carrera Cup season full-time, and is firmly in championship contention in the one-make series, as he looks to keep as many options open for the future.

Though re-affirming his end goal is to return to Supercars full-time, Love admitted that there is nothing set for 2027 as he enters the back end of the season.

"Obviously putting a lot of time and effort into that, and still focussed on Sandown," Love continued.

"At the moment, it's just focus on these two programs, and try and see if we can open any more opportunities this year, and try and start to talk about next year when it comes.

"What that looks like, I don't know at the moment. I guess like most of these guys in the series it's tough, I've been there, I've done it, and now I've been out of it, so to try and get back in is no easy feat.

"Like all of us, we're just doing everything we can to try and get those opportunities, and then put ourselves in the right spot to deliver when you do."

When asked if his weekend had kicked off any discussions regarding 2027, Love responded: "Not that I know of, we'll find out through the week. If the phone rings through the week, then it does, and I'l definitely be there to pick it up, that's for sure."

The next time Super2 is in action, Love won't be on the grid, instead piloting his #78 Porsche at Mount Panorama over the course of the Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend.

Though enjoying his return to Porsche, where his career took off at the start of the decade, the 29-time Supercars race starter admits that it won't be the same as driving a Supercar.

"The politically correct answer given my Cup Car stuff is probably I'll be alright, but these cars are so fun to drive," Love said.

"As these guys know, and everyone up and down pit lane, and everyone who has driven a Supercar before knows that when they're a nice car, and they don't have to be a rocket ship, but when they're a nice car and they do what you want them to do, they're so, so cool to drive.

"The more to heart answer is yeah I will miss them a little bit, but even more of a reason to work hard and come back out where we are at Sandown."

The DUNLOP Super2 Series returns for Round 4 at Bathurst from October 8-11.