Bathurst rookie of the year's unsung effort

If the Rookie of the Year award was still handed out at the Repco Bathurst 1000, the gong would've gone to Matt Stone Racing rookie Cameron Crick.

In a 2024 rookie class that featured the likes of Walkinshaw Andretti United young gun Ryan Wood and 2023 Mike Kable Young Gun Award winner Cameron McLeod, Crick performed a solid double stint on Sunday alongside good mate Cameron Hill.

At the end of the fastest race in Bathurst 1000 history, Hill and Crick scored a career-first top 10 finish, just over half a minute behind race winners Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood.

It was a remarkable recovery for the #4 SP Tools Camaro, which had come out of the gates showing strong speed in Hill's hands during Thursday practice.

However, Crick was bitten by the Mountain in Friday practice, having a heavy hit on the run down to Forrest's Elbow.

The car would be repaired in time for that afternoon's Boost Mobile Qualifying, where Hill would finish 12th, outqualifying Bathurst-winning teammate Nick Percat in the process.

Much like the Penrite Oil Sandown 500, the pair flew under the radar to finish 10th, and nearly stole a position on the finish line as Richie Stanaway coasted across the line having run out of fuel.

Crick, the son of late truck racing legend and Bathurst 1000 starter Rodney Crick, was over the moon with his Bathurst debut.

It was also justification for stepping away from his Super2 commitments with Eggleston Motorsport to focus on his main game duties, though he did compete in V8 SuperUtes at Bathurst.

“Unbelievable to be in the top 10 at my first Bathurst 1000 — stoked with that. In my stint I just plugged away, logged the laps; probably made it easier for some guys but I did what I had to do and gave it back to Cam in one piece," said Crick.

"I was knackered after my double stint so I don’t know how he did a triple — we got through it and his stint at the end was great to get us back into the top 10. To be top 10 at both Sandown and Bathurst is awesome.”

For Hill, the Bathurst result continued a strong run of form since Townsville, having scored the eighth-most points of any combination across the enduros at Sandown and Bathurst.

Having entered the enduros 15th in points, the Canberran now sits 13th in the standings after Bathurst in his sophomore season, which has also pushed MSR up into fifth in the teams points.

“Just finished at the Bathurst 1000 with a top 10, so that’s a pair of top 10s for Twin Cam in the enduros! What a week," said Hill.

"We had a fast car but a setback on Friday but the boys just rallied after that and the car was awesome today."

"We played the long game and we got there in the end; a top 10 for Cricky’s first Bathurst 1000. It’s very, very special.”

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship continues at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 from October 25-27. Tickets are on sale now.