Triple Eight Race Engineering managing director Roland Dane is hoping Porsche tyro Matt Campbell will be available for more Pirtek Enduro Cup bookings beyond this season.
Following the team’s bombshell announcement that Campbell will be paired with Supercars champion and defending Enduro Cup winner Shane Van Gisbergen, Dane remains well aware the youngster’s future could rest in Europe.
Campbell scored a crushing win in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship last year ahead of earning a place in the Zuffenhausen maker’s highly prized European-based Supercup Championship this season.
The Supercup, which traditionally runs on the same bill as Formula 1, sees its closing rounds clear of any clash with the Wilson Security Sandown 500, Supercheap Auto Bathurst and Gold Coast Enduro Cup rounds in September and October.
The 21-year-old Campbell is on a rapid rise in the Porsche world which would see more doors open up for him globally if he is a success in Supercup.
However, Dane is hoping Campbell can remain a key co-driver for his champion Supercars squad going forward.
Campbell steps into the Red Bull fold to replace French driver Alex Premat in the #97 Commodore beside van Gisbergen.
“We’d always had a list of who we wanted and who Shane wanted and Matt was on top of the list,” Dane told Speedcafe.com.
“He (Campbell) could do a good job in Supercup, (but) it might take more than one season because it’s a big call.
“The other thing to remember is GT racing is very cyclical and there has been a little bit of a golden patch in the last few years.
“You’ve seen Audi pull out of LMP1, and okay BMW are coming into the GTE category in the World Endurance Championship but it has always ebbed and flowed.”
Campbell, who comes from Warwick south-west of Brisbane, was part of Nissan Motorsport’s Supercars co-driver roster last year.
Dane says that while Campbell’s immediate full-time gig remains in Porsche’s blue riband Supercup, it is prudent for him to keep interests in other areas.
“You may or may not be able to make a living out of it and if Matt can keep his options open it’s probably sensible,” he added.
“But yes I think he has got a good future ahead of him.
“It would be nice to think there could be a few enduro drives in him going forward.”
Meanwhile, Dane has told Speedcafe.com that there was no animosity between his team and Premat in the wake of the Frenchman deciding against continuing as Van Gisbergen’s co-driver this season.
“I said to Alex that we’ve enjoyed having him around but we will part as friends and go down another route.”
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