Latest Lowndes Protege Faces 'Baptism of Fire' at Ipswich

Zach Bates may have grabbed the headlines last year, but now Cameron Hill is in the spotlight. The 23-year-old is the latest name in the Supercheap Auto program spearheaded by legend Craig Lowndes. However, Hill's journey at Queensland Raceway this weekend is predicted to be far from smooth.

The program may look the same on the outside, but behind the scenes, there's been a major shake-up. After aligning with Triple Eight last year, the partnership has now shifted to Team 18 owned by Charlie Schwerkolt. This marks the first time the squad has fielded a wildcard alongside its full-time entries driven by Anton De Pasquale and David Reynolds.

Hill admits his preparation has been far from ideal. His only pre-race test at The Bend was cut short due to an electrical issue. As a result, he will face a series of firsts on his Supercars race weekend debut. "It wasn't ideal, but I'd rather arrive at QR knowing the car is 100 percent ready to roll," Hill told Speedcafe. "My first ever start will be at the end of pit lane in practice one. The first time I ever drive on the super soft tyres will be in qualifying. My first ever pit stop will be in race one."

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Despite the uncertainties, Hill feels free from pressure. "There are going to be a lot of firsts, and in a way, there's not that much pressure on me," he said. "I'm just there to learn, expand my knowledge, and use all the tools in my toolbox from Super2 and what Craig gives me." The Gold Coast native will also lean on his adaptability honed through racing and testing various machinery, from Carrera Cup and GT3 cameos overseas to a recent LMP2 test.

History shows that four of the five previous Supercheap Auto wildcard young guns have jumped straight into a full-time Supercars drive the following year. Hill hopes his results can open that door, especially with several seats still up for grabs next season, including one at Team 18. "I'm under no illusion that there aren't many seats available, so you really need to stand out," he said. "If a result is strong enough for team owners to give me a call, I'll certainly answer the phone. It's a childhood dream even to be making a wildcard, let alone full-time."

Hill will be one of three wildcards on the grid this weekend. Ben Gomersall makes his debut with Tickford Racing, while Aaron Seton returns to Matt Stone Racing.