McLeod commands Super2 opener
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 22 February 2025
Cameron McLeod has converted his maiden Super2 pole into a breakthrough victory with a composed drive at Sydney.
Boosted by taking his first pole 25 years after his father Ryan did at the same circuit, Cameron McLeod led all 23 laps of the 2025 opener.
He was untroubled from start to finish and enjoyed a 9s buffer on Jobe Stewart, who held off Rylan Gray in a tense battle.
Jackson Walls crossed the line fourth, but a 15s penalty for a clear jump start saw him fall to 10th, just behind Zach Bates, who struggled in his first race with the #1 and Eggleston Motorsport.
Whilst they stayed out of trouble there was a lot going on when the race began.
Before the lights went out Jackson Walls was already on the move and shot to third with a clear jump start, which he received a 15s penalty for.
Starting from pole for the first time in Super2, McLeod nailed the getaway to front the field into Turn 1.
But the rookie starting alongside him Hobson was not as successful and bogged it down to be swamped from the field, slipping from second to eighth.
Stewart also lit it up and slotted into second ahead of the penalised Walls, Rylan Gray and Nash Morris.
Reigning champion Zach Bates was struggling and dropped down to eighth with grip issues.
McLeod only needed three laps to build a lead of beyond a second and that quickly continued to climb as Stewart had his work cut out keeping Walls at bay.
Another lock up at Turn 8 at Lap 7 put Bates on the back foot even further and by the time he arrived at the final corner he had Gomersall side by side.
The Triple Eight driver tried to dive down the inside, but was not up far enough and tagged the #1.
This triggered a willing battle with Hughes, Burcher and Dalton with some close calls through the opening corner.
The contest for 10th was eventually won by the more experienced Dalton.
The Bates v Gomersall battle resumed on Lap 14 where the pair battled door to door around Corporate Hill.
But once again the Eggleston Motorsport racer got his elbows out to defend the position.
But eventually it was third time lucky when Bates ran out of grip at the Turn 8 hairpin and the Triple Eight driver slipped past.
As the clock ticked over to the final 10 minutes, attention turned to the fight for second.
Stewart was now 7s adrift of McLeod and Gray had made it a three-car battle by catching the rear of Walls.
The Triple Eight driver had little to defend with when the Tickford youngster came charging past at Turn 5.
This left him with four laps to chase down Stewart, but fell three tenths short.
Everything will reset on Sunday where Super2 qualifying and racing takes place at 10.35 and 14.40 AEDT respectively.
Image: Peter Norton Epic Sports Photography
Super2 Round 1 Race 1 Sydney results
2025 Sydney 500
Practice 1: A. De Pasquale 1:30.0226 2: D. Reynolds +0.4742 3: J. Courtney +0.5039
Qualifying 1: C. Waters 1:28.6968 2: B. Feeney +0.2544 3: M. Payne +0.4559
Race 1: C. Waters 2: C. Mostert 3: T. Randle
Qualifying: 1 C. Waters 1:28.8998 2: B. Feeney +0.2187 3: M. Payne +0.4045
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