Porsche Junior Matt Campbell will fight for third place in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup title this weekend as Porsche’s pinnacle one-make series commences its two-race season finale at Mexico’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
With German points leader Michael Ammermüller and Norwegian Porsche Junior Dennis Olsen fighting for the title, Campbell’s focus is set on securing third in the Supercup standings at what is a new circuit to the series’ calendar.
Ahead of the Mexican finale, former FIA World Endurance Champion and Porsche Ambassador Mark Webber has praised Campbell’s rookie Supercup season and believes success is possible for the young Australian this weekend.
“Many of the Supercup drivers don’t have much experience in Mexico, which is a very specific circuit. It’s super high in altitude, very low on grip so the car moves around a lot and it has long straights so it’s very tricky to get braking for turn one right. I think it will be a great opportunity for Matt to get another really good result. The team is lifting and they have learnt an absolute truckload,” said Webber, who applauded Campbell’s efforts in his rookie Supercup season.
“In Supercup, it’s really hard to get the whole weekend together, getting the tyres in the right window in qualifying, track temperatures, the tracks in Europe are extremely technical and the competition is red hot, so for him to claim a few poles and get some victories is absolutely sensational.
“Porsche has a lot of red hot Juniors right now and he is certainly one of them. He’s flying the Australian flag very well for us. I’m hoping he’s back in 2018 and gives it another go.”
Meanwhile, Campbell is looking to finish his first season of international competition on a high having already scored two race wins – at Austria’s Red Bull Ring and Monza, Italy – in his debut Supercup season.
“I’m finishing the season strong. We’ve had a couple of difficult rounds there in the middle of the year but we finished the European season on a high by winning at Monza, so that was fantastic, but there’s two more races to go in Mexico so I’ll hope to get a couple more podiums. I’m third in the championship at the moment and obviously I want to stay there,” said Campbell, who was recently in Australia for the Supercars Championship’s Enduro Cup, placing fourth in the three-race title alongside Shane van Gisbergen.
“Mexico is the one round I’ve been looking forward to since the start of the year because it is a level playing field as no one can test there and no one has been there before. It’s a new experience for everyone and I’m really looking forward to experiencing a new circuit and the Mexican culture.”
Campbell, the 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia champion, holds a mere three point margin to fourth placed Briton Dan Cammish, with Polish driver Robert Lukas a further 13 points behind in fifth.
Should Campbell retain third in the standings, the result would place Australia third in the maiden National League title behind Germany and Norway.
The final two Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup races will be broadcast in Australia on subscription channel Eurosport. Race one’s broadcast will be delayed and race two will be televised live, both on Monday morning.
Broadcast Schedule – Australia (AEDT)
Race 1 – Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Mexico
Date: Monday October 30, 2017
Time: 2:45am-3:15am
Channel: Eurosport (Channel 511)
Race 2 – Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Mexico
Date: Monday October 30, 2017
Time: 3:15am-4:15am
Channel: Eurosport (Channel 511)
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup standings – after 9 of 11 races
1. Michael Ammermüller (D/Lechner MSG Racing Team), 157 points
2. Dennis Olsen (N/Walter Lechner Racing Team), 154 points
3. Matt Campbell (AUS/Fach Auto Tech), 111 points
4. Dan Cammish (GB/Lechner MSG Racing Team), 108 points