McLeod ‘humbled’ to get special Supercars honour
Super3 speedster Cameron McLeod was touched and “very surprised” to receive the prestigious Mike Kable Young Gun award for 2023.
Despite falling short of Super3 title glory, McLeod turned heads with his outright speed in the #92 Gotzinger Nissan Altima.
He won the most Super3 rounds (4) wins (8) poles (9) and fastest laps (10) across the 12 races, while an unlucky double DNF at Sandown ultimately proved costly.
He joined the likes of previous Supercars champions Marcos Ambrose (2001) Rick Kelly (2002) Mark Winterbottom (2003) James Courtney (2006) and Scott McLaughlin (2013) whilst last year’s recipient was 2023 VAILO Adelaide 500 winner Matt Payne.
McLeod admitted it was very touching to join these names with the honour, easily the biggest in his short, but fledgling career.
“I am very surprised it was me to be honest,” McLeod, 18, told AUTO ACTION.
“I thought it would have been one of the Super2 boys because I don’t think it has every really gone to Super3 driver before.
After winning Super3 in Adelaide, Cam McLeod claimed the prestigious Mike Kable Young Gun award. Image: Mark Horsburgh
“It is a massive honour to have it. Probably the biggest award I have got in my life. I am very happy to have such a prestigious award in my first year of racing in the Dunlop Series.
“There have been a lot of big name Supercars drivers who have got this trophy like Matt Payne, who got it last year and just won in Adelaide.
“Obviously we would have liked to have won the championship but it did not go my way, so to come home with some kind of away puts the icing on top of a big year. Very special.”
McLeod is happy with how he performed and has learnt a lot behind the wheel of the Nissan.
Cameron McLeod rides the kerb at the Senna Chicane. Image: Mark Horsburgh
“When I first jumped into a Supercar it was driving me with so much power,” he recalled.
“But now I can think about everything I am doing and it all feels a lot slower. It is almost like driving a Formula Ford again and becoming one with the car. I learnt a lot.
“Being a single car privateer team has been enjoyable and we were very fortunate being at Supercars events. It would not have been possible without my sponsors.
“The way we approached it was really good and everyone in the team had a good understanding of the cars so it worked really well.”
The MARC GT SS Cameron McLeod drove to Sports Sedans success at Surfers Paradise was the favourite of the many cars he drove in 2023.
In addition to Super3, McLeod also raced Sports Sedans on the Gold Coast, V8 Touring Car Series at Bathurst, MARC cars, Hyundai Excels, a McLaren GT4 and also competed at the Bathurst 12 Hour and Dubai 24 Hour events.
This all took place in one big 2023 for McLeod, who said the key to his adaptability comes from two karts he regularly jumps in.
“It is a bit tricky, but that is why I use go karts a lot,” he said.
“Especially this year I have an X30 go-kart and also a KZ, so a six-speed.
Cam McLeod on the top step at Adelaide. Image: Peter Norton
“I switch from the two which gives me training from one that is completely different to the other which gives me the practice of adjusting my driving style. It is a big tool.”
With both himself and Stewart racing the Super2 drivers regularly in 2023, McLeod is eying the step up the second tier next year.
“I want to make the step up to Super2,” he said.
“We are pushing for that because it is where we want to be but there are a lot of things that are going on in the background.
“Hopefully it happens but we just need to figure out how.”
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