McLeod calls on main game connection for Tassie debut

Cameron McLeod has enlisted the services of a Supercars star as he prepares for his first ever appearance at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania.

Round 2 of the 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series will mark the first time since 2018 that the development series will venture to the historic venue, with the current field all set to make their Super2 debuts at the historic venue.

There are a number of drivers who will be making their first career appearances at Symmons Plains, one of whom is McLeod, who is just six points behind points leader Jordyn Sinni.

The 20-year-old Queenslander broke through for a long-awaited maiden Super2 victory with a dominant lights-to-flag win at the season opener in Sydney, and is doing everything he can to maintain his strong start to the season.

The recipient of the Mike Kable Young Gun Award in 2023, McLeod has spent time at Thomas Randle's Dream Simulation business in Melbourne, as he tries to familiarise himself with the new challenge.

"Everyone has their ways, I usually go on Randle's sim and do a day on there, he teaches you a lot about the track and you get to just drive," McLeod told Supercars.com.

"The cars on the sim are quite good, normally I'd just go there if I'm going to a track I've never been to, and obviously just a lot of data I find before the session.

"Just going over everything on your head and braking markers, it makes it a lot easier in your head to know exactly where you're breaking, it gives you a lot of confidence as well.

"I've got my way on learning new tracks, I've done it plenty of times, so I think I've got it down at the moment."

Having endured an up-and-down rookie Super2 season in a ZB Commodore supported by PremiAir Racing last year, McLeod is relishing starting 2025 on the front foot in the midst of the championship battle.

McLeod added: "It's really good actually coming off Round 1. I was a bit of a one day wonder there, but plenty of things happen overnight when you try to make the car go faster, sometimes you just don't get it right. I'm full of confidence for Tassie, and I'm really keen on the track.

"I've just been full of confidence lately and working hard on some things just anything to bring this year together, get everything kind of in one year of what I've been trying to chase the last two years, so just working hard really."

Although the car is still run out of the RM Racing Cars operation owned by McLeod's father and former Super2 driver Ryan McLeod, McLeod has swapped a Commodore for a Mustang in 2025.

McLeod returned to the Kelly Racing fold in the off-season having driven one of their Nissans in his standout 2023 Super3 campaign, and has rekindled his strong combination with 2005 Bathurst winner Todd Kelly, veteran engineer Wally Storey, and teammate Mason Kelly.

"I love the Kelly's, they're great. It's somewhat of a family team on their side and then a family team on our side, but we've both come together and both trying to get the best out of both drivers," McLeod added.

"They do an amazing job preparing the car, getting it to the track set-up and things like that, and obviously having Todd [Kelly], Wally Storey [engineer], and my Dad Ryan, they're all really experienced guys on the grid.

"I'm not short on any experience or any thoughts, so having them all together just creates a really, really strong team."

McLeod, who will partner Cameron Hill in the Supercars enduros later this year, will also be leaning on the experience of the senior Kelly and Storey throughout the weekend in Tasmania, with Kelly a Supercars race winner at Symmons Plains in 2008.

"Obviously Todd's done a fair bit there, and I'm sure Wally has engineered plenty of cars there, so I think it'll be a whole lot of chitchatting, a lot of picking his brains out," McLeod said.

"I'm just trying to learn anything I can really about the track, so anything they have in their head they will always be able to share it and tell me whatever I need to know.

"I think that's why the Kellys and I, and Wally all get along so well, and we always have a really competitive car."

Round 2 of the 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series will take place at the Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440 from May 9-11. Tickets for the event are on sale now.