V8 Supercars

Highs and Lows for Cameron McConville Up North

JAXQuickfit Tyres franchisee, Cameron McConville claimed victory on the weekend in Race One at the final endurance round in the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship, the Armor All Gold Coast 600.

McConville, and team-mate Garth Tander won the first of two gruelling 300km races in the Toll Holden Racing Team #2 car on Saturday.

After Tander scored pole position in the Top 10 Shootout, the win was set up by McConville in an incredible first stint despite receiving a 10 second penalty for allegedly rolling at the start.

“The car was excellent in qualifying, it just got better and better and then the race was amazing, Cameron did a great job with the start of the race, he had that issue with the ten second penalty and he was able to get up there and just pulled away.” Garth Tander said.

McConville achieved a 20 second gap in his 38 lap drive, with the penalty served when he handed over to Tander at the first stop.

Tander quickly regained the lead within five laps, but was overtaken by Ford’s James Courtney with 22 laps to go; however a controversial black flag for Courtney for a Safety car breech handed the lead back to HRT with 10 laps remaining in the race – Tander holding off Craig Lowndes for the win.

“It was a fairly humbling victory. There was so much going on at the end of the race … I don’t usually bite my nails but I did today (Saturday)!” McConville said.

The nail biting action continued on the Sunday. McConville’s form was phenomenal and it was obvious to all why the Holden Racing Team had contracted the semi retired driver to get back behind the wheel for this season’s endurance races.

McConville’s drive deserved a podium finish on the Sunday, his experience and handling of the car on one of the most challenging street circuits, a talking point between the heavy weights in the industry.

Holding off the local and international competition, McConville maintained a strong pace to keep the #2 Holden in the top ten for most of his driving stint in Race Two.

Chances of a double victory were dashed though, when driver duties were handed over to Tander who made an extremely uncharacteristic steering error on lap 57, which saw the #2 car hit the chicane in the main straight, ending their race immediately.

The Armor All Gold Coast 600 marked the final V8 Supercar race in 2010 for McConville, who was contracted with the Toll Holden Racing Team to compete in the long distance races at Phillip Island, Bathurst and the Gold Coast.

Tags: Cameron McConville, Garth Tander, Holden Racing Team