Matt Stone Racing scores “big win” at Gen3 shakedown 

Matt Stone Racing became the first team to drive a Chevrolet Camaro Gen3 Supercars racer at a “momentous” Queensland Raceway shakedown on Tuesday.

The Yatala-based operation put chassis MSR003 through its paces at Ipswich with rookie Cameron Hill completing the historic first laps before more experienced teammate Jack Le Brocq also jumped behind the wheel.

The car ran in a unique test scheme, featuring black panels and one logo of major sponsor Truck Assist on either door.

MSR’s second Chevrolet Camaro is yet to be completed, but the team hopes jump over “another hurdle” to finish it by Thursday when it returns for another test at the “Paperclip”.

The Matt Stone Racing Chevrolet Camaro on track at the “Paperclip”. Images: Supplied

The liveries the two-car team will carry in the 12-round 2023 Supercars Championship at a private launch event on Monday, February 13.

But the main focus now is to come to grips with the new car, which has received a “perfect” start according to buzzing rookie Hill.

“What a special morning for me to be the first driver to drive a Camaro racecar this year,” he said. 

“The day has gone super smoothly, we did a couple of installation laps and we came in for the boys to have a look at the car. 

“It has all been perfect, so a great start to our test programme.” 

Hill steps up to the main game after finishing fifth in last year’s Super2 Series where he represented Triple Eight Race Engineering across a solid campaign, highlighted by three podiums, while he also won the Bathurst 6 Hour.

The 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia champion joins Le Brocq, who is suiting up for his second year at MSR.

The one-time race winner is already a big fan of the “unreal” Gen3 Camaro and predicts tyre wear to become a big factor at the season-opening Newcastle 500.

Jack Le Brocq is all smiles inside the Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro with a new haircut.

“We ran MSR003, the first Supercars Championship car that Matt Stone Racing has built as a team, which is very exciting,” Le Brocq said.

“The car is unreal, heaps of power; it’s going to be pretty interesting on the rear tyre especially come Newcastle for 90-odd laps. 

“Huge credit to the guys at MSR to be the first Chevrolet Racing Camaro on track in Supercars apart from the prototype. We are very excited to show the livery off in the coming week.”

For MSR team owner Matt Stone, being the first Camaro squad to complete a Gen3 shakedown was something he did not take for granted.

Matt Stone Racing prepares its Chevrolet Camaro in the garage ahead of its Gen3 shakedown.

He said it was a “momentous” moment to see his team roll the car out of the garage after the deadline date appeared “iffy” on occasions.

“Momentous occasion for the team to be the first Gen3 Camaro out on track,” Stone said. 

“We’ve started the learning for ourselves now; we’ve seen a lot through the prototype and heard a lot so it’s good to be out here getting our own information. 

“To be the first Chevrolet Racing car out there is a big win, so we’re stoked to represent the brand today.

“With the supply chain issues, we’ve just been working to fluid timelines. There were a few times we thought today was going to be iffy but we had a couple of good weeks and we got here without too much stress. 

“Getting our second car out in just two days’ time is proving to be another hurdle as parts continue to be the big issue, but we’re confident we can keep working towards it.

“It’s been a good day. It’s been surprising; there’s similarities to the old car and then some things that are very different. 

“It’s a very new beast and it’s exciting to have it in the flesh on a track and start the process of getting ready to race.”

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