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Cameron Clinches Historic Double Title
Team Valvoline GRM’s Aaron Cameron has become just the third driver to win both the Australian Drivers’ Championship and Tasman Cup in the same season after winning the final S5000 race of 2023 in Adelaide.
Cameron completed the historic feat with another dominant display on the streets of Adelaide, sealing his second Tasman Cup after taking the title in 2021, and officially claiming his maiden Gold Star after mathematically clinching it yesterday.
It was yet another all-Team Valvoline GRM front row for the final race of the weekend, though this time Cameron had a clear advantage into the Senna Chicane as Jordan Boys bogged down in the second phase of the start.
The race would very quickly be placed under the control of the safety car on the opening lap as the Team 88 / Team BRM entry of Kaleb Ngatoa was deposited into the tyre wall at turn five after a bump from Nic Carroll after the Victorian clipped the inside kerb.
The field would see the green flag again at the commencement of lap four, with Cameron once again waiting until the last possible moment before accelerating away from the field.
The biggest beneficiary in the pack was the Nippy’s Versa Motorsport entry of Blake Purdie, who immediately jumped on the push to pass and got to inside of Boys in the battle for second.
The Team Valvoline GRM driver was not going to give up without a fight however, launching over the Senna Chicane kerb and lighting up the rear tyres on landing as he scrambled back within track limits and held on to second.
The battle between Boys and Purdie would allow Cameron to streak away at the front of the field whilst Ben Bargwanna, Carroll, Nathan Herne, and Cooper Webster would all stack up behind the pair battling for second.
The battle would come to an abrupt end on lap six as Purdie would fly over the kerb at the Senna Chicane, breaking his front right suspension and meeting the concrete at the exit of turn three.
That would ultimately set the running order at the chequered flag, with Cameron leading Team Valvoline GRM stablemate Boys and the Hangcha Racing entry of Ben Bargwanna as the race finished under safety car.
The field would be rounded out by Herne, Webster (who would be pipped for second in the Gold Star standings by Boys), Carroll, Sebastien Amadio, Kobi Williams, and Mark Rosser.