CAMERON Hill is the latest young star set to step up to the Repco Supercars Championship in 2023.
The Triple Eight Super2 driver is tipped to be announced as Todd Hazelwood’s replacement at Matt Stone Racing in the not-too-distant future.
Hill might only have 10 races under his belt in a Supercar but he’s not lacking experience nor credentials.
The Canberran will turn 26 later this month. His resume includes titles in Australian Formula Ford (2015) and Porsche Carrera Cup Australia (2021), as well as a Bathurst 6 Hour outright victory.
Hill stepped up to Super2 this year and impressed with his pace straight out of the gate, matching up soundly against teammate Declan Fraser.
And while Fraser is in the box seat to clinch the title, entering the Adelaide decider with a 75-point advantage over Tickford Racing’s Zak Best, Hill does lead the intra-team qualifying battle six to four.
MORE: Fraser out of the running for MSR seat
Round podiums have come at both Perth and Townsville, and a PremiAir Racing co-drive followed.
Hill performed solidly at Mount Panorama, he and Chris Pither on for a top 12 finish before power steering gremlins set them back.
So, why is he the man to be Jack Le Brocq’s new teammate?
Having run a more experienced pairing this year, MSR owner Matt Stone quickly committed to bringing a new name into the championship once news broke that Hazelwood would be heading to the Blanchard Racing Team.
Stone immediately cited the advantage of additional test days that a rookie driver is allowed, which could help the team get to grips with the new-for-2023 Gen3 machinery.
Beyond that, and the ability to raise the necessary funds to secure the seat, why Hill?
Fraser is on-track to win the second-tier crown, Best is the youngest pole-sitter in Supercars Championship history, and Tyler Everingham has proven his race-winning ability in Super2 over and over.
But there is plenty of upside attached to Hill.
He is a proven winner.
His Supercars success despite relative inexperience in the notoriously unique equipment suggests there is more to come.
Independence is a word commonly associated with Hill. He runs his own team. Being an ambitious go-getter might be quite useful when it comes to an outfit like MSR that is gradually finding its feet.
For Hill, why take the punt now rather than return for a second shot at winning the Super2 title?
Well, Fraser’s case shows there is no guarantee that silverware equals a graduation.
And what better time to give yourself the best chance of succeeding than 2023?
He will be giving very little, if anything, away to rival drivers when it comes to how to extract the most from the equipment.
He’ll also have a brand new car to himself – unusual for a customer squad which typically runs Triple Eight hand-me-downs.
If he can compare strongly against Le Brocq, who will be in his sixth full season at main game level, it will bode well for his future prospects – whether at MSR or elsewhere.
