McLeod on skipping Super2

McLeod

PremiAir Nulon Racing youngster Cameron McLeod is “not fussed” about skipping Super2 next weekend, with all his focus on a Great Race debut.

McLeod will share the #23 Camaro with Tim Slade at the 2024 Bathurst 1000, but not steer his #92 Ryan McLeod Racing Cars ZB Commodore in the Super2.

The team has decided to park the Coke Commodore to ensure the 19-year-old will be in tip-top shape for the big one on Sunday, October 13.

It is the same ploy used by Eggleston Motorsport with Cooper Murray also opting to skip the second Mount Panorama round and focus on steering the Supercheap Auto wildcard with Craig Lowndes.

Both Murray and McLeod have been impacted by incidents in the first half of the 2024 Super2 season and sit 17th and 10th respectively in the standings.

Both drivers had big weekends in Sandown with Super2 qualifying, a 40-minute race, plus the minimum 54 laps in the Supercar competing in the Sandown 500 all on the one day.

McLeod is on board with PremiAir’s Bathurst call, especially considering the season also started at Mount Panorama and he has already competed in numerous races and categories at the iconic 6.213km circuit.

“We including all the sponsors and Peter, came together and decided for my career and to get the best result at Bathurst, its best to just focus on the main game and skip Super2,” McLeod told AUTO ACTION.

“Obviously I want to do everything I can to drive well for PremiAir Nulon Racing and it was decided this is best for us.

“We are not in the fight for the Super2 championship so I am not too fussed about it from that perspective.

“I have the opportunity that I am not in the Super2 championship it won’t hurt to miss a round.

“It is not like I am missing out on anything major either. I have done plenty of laps around Bathurst. 

“If it was my first time going there I would probably do both, but I have been there plenty of times and know the track quite well so we will just stick to Gen3 and do the best we can there.

“Being Tim’s last 1000 as a main driver I will do everything I can to help him out and make it a solid result for the team.

“We will still be there in Adelaide and hopefully finish the year with a strong round.”

McLeod revealed he did not feel too overwhelmed by the significant Sandown seat time and was boosted by the morale at PremiAir after it scored a maiden podium and completed a busy test.

“It would take a bit of stress off,” he said.

“I was not that stressed at Sandown but it is more about focussing on what the future is and that is Supercars.

“I think the team is doing an amazing job.

“Peter (Xiberras), the engineers (Romy Mayer and Andrew Gilliam) and drivers are all mega so if we can stick everything together and I can do my best job focussing on the little things, we can be in for a good result.”