Cameron McConville

Cameron McConville is an Australian racing driver who most recently competed in the Australian GT Championship . Earlier, he was active in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and as an endurance co-driver in the V8 Supercars Championship.

McConville made his Supercars debut in 1999, participating in more than 330 races since then and winning two times. At Bathurst 1000, he was on a podium six times but never managed to win a race. However, he won the inaugural Bathurst 24 Hour race back in 2002 and finished second next year.

Early in a career, McConville was the 1992 Formula Ford champion, the 1996 Australian GT Production Car champion and the 1998 Australian Super Touring vice-champion.

Cameron McConville

Formula Ford champion early in a career

Born in January 1974 in Melbourne, Victoria, Cameron McConville started his racing career at the age 8 in karting competitions. At the age fifteen, he received CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motorsport) license and progressed to Formula Vee. In 1991, McConville switched to Formula Ford, finishing 8th in his debut season.

In 1992, driving a Van Diemen RF92 and winning four races, McConville became a champion of the Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series, beating some of the future racing stars such as Craig Lowndes or Steven Richards.

Supercars debut in 1992 with Dick Johnson Racing

Championship title didn't launch McConville's European career but it drew an attention of Dick Johnson and he invited young Cameron to test Ford Sierra RS500 for his Supercars team. McConville impressed Johnson and was included in the driver line-up for the 1992 Bathurst 1000.

McConville easily qualified the #18 Ford Sierra RS500 but he didn't drive in the race due to wet conditions. The team decided to let the more experienced drivers Terry Shiel and Greg Crick to drive a car. They finished in 11th place. McConville's performance secured him a place in Dick Johnson Racing's #18 Ford FB Falcon next year. At 1993 Bathurst 1000, he was sharing a car with Paul Radisich, finishing in the eighth place.

In 1994, McConville recorded his third attempt at Bathurst 1000, sharing the #39 Challenge Motorsport Holden Commodore with Chris Smerdon. They finished in 13th place.

Australian GT Production Car Championship winner in 1996

In 1996, McConville teamed up with businessman Tom Warwick who was sponsoring his #22 Porsche 993 RSCS in the Australian GT Production Championship. McConville was a race winner four times, winning a title ahead of Jim Richards.

At 1996 Bathurst 1000, McConville joined Mark Larkham to drive the #10 Ford Falcon for Larkham's team. They retired after just three laps.

McConville spent two seasons with Audi Sport Australia

Maiden Bathurst 1000 podium with Audi Sport Australia

In 1997, McConville was chosen to drive for Orix Audi Sport Australia, operated by Brad Jones Racing, in the Australian Super Touring Championship. Driving the #11 Audi A4 Quattro, McConville was a race winner two times, finishing third in the points behind BMW drivers Paul Morris and Geoff Brabham.

In October 1997, McConville participated at AMP Bathurst 1000, the first Bathurst 100 race after the controversial split between two race organizers. Sharing the #11 Audi A4 Quattro with Jean-Francois Hemroulle, he finished in the third place.

1998 – championship runner-up and podium at Bathurst

In 1998, McConville stayed with Audi Sport/Brad Jones Racing in the Australian Super Touring Championship. He was a race winner seven times in the #3 Audi A4 Quattro, narrowly losing a title to team owner Brad Jones.

At 1998 AMP Bathurst 1000, McConville and Brad Jones competed together in the #1 Audi, finishing in the third place. McConville also participated in another Bathurst endurance race (FAI 1000 Classic), joining John Bowe in #18 DJR Ford Falcon. They retired after 80 laps.

Lowndes and McConville were second at 1999 Bathurst 1000 in the #1 Holden

Second place at 1999 Bathurst 1000 for McConville, Lowndes

In 1999, McConville moved to V8 Supercars, participating in eleven races of the Shell Championship Series with Holden Racing Team and John Faulkner Racing.

At Bathurst 1000, he was sharing the #1 Holden VT Commodore with championship leader Craig Lowndes. Starting third on the grid, they finished in the second place. Such a result earned McConville the first full-time contract in the Supercars.

2000 - first full season in Supercars

For the 2000 V8 Supercars season, McConville joined the newly founded Rod Nash Racing. McConville's car was the #54 Holden VT Commodore. He finished 27th in the points. His Bathurst co-driver was Geoff Brabham and they didn't finish the race.

In 2001, McConville moved to the Sydney-based Lansvale Racing Team, driving the #3 Holden VX Commodore for three seasons. Without wins or podiums, his best result was 18th place at the end of 2003. At Bathurst 1000, his co-drivers in the #3 car were Rick Bates (2001, 10th), Warren Luff (2002, 15th) and Tim Leahey (2003, 20th).

Victorious Holden Monaro at 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour

Victory at 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour race

While racing with Lansvale Racing Team in the V8 Supercars Championship, McConville joined Garry Rogers Motorsport in two editions of the Bathurst 24 Hour race at Mount Panorama Circuit. In the inaugural race in November 2002, McConville was an outright winner in the #427 Holden Monaro 427C, sharing a car with Garth Tander, Steven Richards and Nathan Pretty.

A year later, the same four drivers finished second at Bathurst 24 Hour in the same car, losing a victory behind the #05 crew in the similar car.

Celebrating maiden Supercars victory at Winton Motor Raceway in 2004

Two Supercars seasons with Garry Rogers Motorsport

Following that success at Bathurst 24 Hour, McConville joined Garry Rogers Motorsport as a full-time driver in the 2004 V8 Supercars Championship. Driving the #33 Holden VY Commodore, McConville took his first championship race victory at Winton Motor Raceway. At the end of the season, McConville was 13th in the points. At Bathurst 1000, he joined Garth Tander in the #34 car, not finishing the race.

In 2005, Tander left the team and McConville was a leading driver in the #33 Holden. He finished tenth in the championship and fourth at Bathurst 1000, sharing the #34 Holden with Andrew Jones.

Two seasons with Paul Weel Racing

For the 2006 Supercars season, McConville joined Paul Weel Racing to drive the #50 Supercheap Auto Racing Holden  VZ Commodore, with Greg Murphy as his teammate. McConville was 13th in the championship and retired at Bathurst, sharing a car with Murphy.

In 2007, McConville stayed with the team, finishing only 34th in the championship. At Bathurst 1000, McConville retired even before the race started due to engine failure on the #50 Holden.

Cameron McConville and Jason Richards

Second place at 2009 Bathurst 1000 for McConville and Jason Richards

In 2008, McConville rejoined his former team boss Brad Jones to drive the #14 Team BOC Holden Commodore after the team made the switch from Ford to Holden. The highlight of the season was the third place at Adelaide 500 and McConville finished 22nd in the final standings. He and Andrew Jones retired in Bathurst 1000.

In 2009, McConville stayed in the #14 Holden Commodore, finishing 20th in the championship standings. The highlight of the season was the second place at Bathurst 1000 for him and Jason Richards in the #8 Holden VE Commodore.

Second Supercars victory at 2010 Gold Coast 600

At the end of 2009, McConville announced his decision to step down from full-time racing. Holden Racing Team chose him as an endurance co-driver to Garth Tander and that resulted in McConville's second Supercars victory in a career. Driving the #2 Holden, they win the first race of Gold Coast 600 event at Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. At Bathurst 1000, McConville reached his fifth podium in that race, finishing in the third place.

Except driving for HRT in endurance races, McConville joined Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport at Townsville's round. He also participated in one round of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series with Eggleston Motorsport, winning two of three races at Winton. One more McConville's success in 2010 was the third place at Bathurst 12 Hour with Holden Motorsport's HSV R8 Tourer.

Cameron McConville at 2010 Gold Coast 600

Two seasons in the V8 Ute Racing Series

In 2011, McConville replaced injured Brad Jones in one V8 Supercars Championship round and served as an endurance co-driver to Holden Racing Team's James Courtney. They were seventh at Bathurst 1000.

McConville again joined Eggleston Motorsport in a couple of rounds of the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series. He also spent a season in the Australian V8 Ute Racing Series with Walkinshaw Racing, winning one round and finishing fifth in the points.

In 2012, McConville joined Holden Racing Team's James Courtney in endurance races of the V8 Supercars Championship, finishing fourth at Bathurst 1000 in the #22 Holden VE Commodore. McConville repeated a participation in the V8 Ute Racing Series with Walkinshaw Racing, winning two rounds and finishing fifth in the points.

Racing with Maranello Motorsport from 2012 to 2016

In 2012, McConville also made a one-off appearance in the Australian GT Championship, driving the #8 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 for Maranello Motorsport at Winton Motor Raceway. He was sharing a car with Nick O'Halloran.

After being out of racing in 2013, McConville rejoined Maranello Motorsport in one round of the 2014 Australian GT Championship, driving a Ferrari at Highlands. His co-driver was Adrian Deitz. In 2015, McConville joined Adrian Deitz and Maranello Motorsport in three rounds of the GT championship.

In 2016, he expanded his GT racing activities to full season with Maranello Motorsport in the Australian GT Championship and Australian Endurance Championship, still sharing the #8 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 with Adrian Deitz.

Nick Percat and Cameron McConville were teammates in 2016

One more Bathurst 1000 podium in 2016

In 2016, McConville returned to V8 Supercars Championship and Bathurst 1000 for the first time since 2012. Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport hired him to serve as a co-driver to Nick Percat at Mount Panorama.

A pair in the #222 Holden VF Commodore finished in the third place, what was McConville's sixth Bathurst 1000 podium in a career. In other endurance events, they were 9th at Sandown and 16th at Gold Coast 600's second race.

McConville's #5 Porsche in the Australian Carrera Cup

Full season in the 2017 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia

Cameron McConville made his first appearance in the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup back in 2015, driving for Buik Motorsport in three rounds and scoring four podiums in eight races.

In 2017, McConville decided to participate full season in the Carrera Cup, driving the #5 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup for Zagame Motorsport. He scored five podiums, including one victory, to finish seventh in the final standings.

Combining GT championship and Supercars Championship

In 2017, McConville was also driving Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for Zagame Motorsport in the Australian GT Championship and Endurance Championship, not scoring wins. He and Adrian Deitz finished sixth in the Endurance Championship.

In the 2017 V8 Supercars Championship, McConville joined Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport for the Darwin Triple Crown in the #3 Holden VF Commodore, finishing 17th in the first race and 26th in the second race.

In 2018, McConville's only job was to drive a Lamborghini Huracan for Zagame Motorsport in the GT championship, without any notable success. He slowed down with racing activities in 2019, joining Wall Racing in couple events to drive a Huracan.

Photos: Cam McConville, Getty Images,