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McCorkindale: ‘Super3 key to Supercars progression’
Long-time Dunlop Super3 series contender Jon McCorkindale says his time racing at the pointy-end of the long-running category was critical in his moving up the ranks of Supercars racing.
After a long and successful stint in V8TC / Super3 competition, McCorkindale will make his Dunlop Super2 series debut next weekend at the Winton SuperSprint in regional Victoria.
His small family-run team from Young, in country New South Wales, has purchased an ex-Garry Rogers Motorsport ‘Car of the Future’ VF Commodore ahead of the next step in his racing career.
Hailing originally from a Speedway background, McCorkindale raced Saloon Cars and Porsche Sprint Challenge before making his debut in the then-V8 Touring Cars category in 2016.
He has since started 19 rounds, winning two of them and finishing a career-best third in the 2018 championship.
“Racing and winning in Super 3 and V8 Touring Cars has given me the confidence to step up,” McCorkindale said.
“It’s proven what I can do as a driver. I’m 30 now and not doing this because I’m trying to make a career out of it – but at the same time, if I was 16 and coming up through the ranks Super3 would still be the stepping stone.
“You just can’t go from nothing to Super2 at once and without Super3 I wouldn’t be making this step.”
McCorkindale will join the Super2 grid to race against a host of fellow Super3 graduates – most of whom he has already raced door-to-door against in his previous category.
Tyler Everingham, Matt Chahda, Josh Fife, Jayden Ojeda, Jack Sipp, Jordan Boys, Matthew McLean, Zak Best, Declan Fraser, Broc Feeney and Jay Robotham all cut their teeth in V8 Touring Cars / Super3 prior to stepping up to the next series.
“I’ve gone door to door with everyone winning in Super2 at the moment,” McCorkindale said.
“I have no dramas in my ability to race these guys – it’s most about being reasonable with what we can expect as a team.
“We’re a little team and I don’t want to put pressure on anyone when it comes to targeting results, but I think we’re going to be competitive.”
Having taken delivery of the ex-GRM Commodore recently, McCorkindale completed his first test day with the car at Winton today (Wednesday, 19 May).
His initial reaction to his new ride was positive, and a step up on his pre-COTF FG Falcon.
“I’ve had a few runs and I’m feeling pretty good. It’s a totally different car but in many respects it feels easier to drive,” he said.
“At the moment it’s great. I’m sure things will be different when we’re out there in the pack but right now we’re really happy.
“GRM have been fantastic in supporting us in getting up to speed with the car and helping us get into a really good position for our debut next week.”
McCorkindale’s decision to step into the Dunlop Super2 Series leaves the Super3 championship wide-open heading into the Winton event, where the two categories will again share the same grid.
Anderson Motorsport’s Michael Anderson will assume the role as the leading active driver in the championship, the Bathurst-based driver sitting second in the standings following a dramatic last-lap race win at Mount Panorama in February.
He leads Brendan Strong and young-gun Reef McCarthy by a narrow margin ahead of the Winton event.
The Dunlop Super3 Series grid for the Winton SuperSprint will be announced tomorrow (Thursday), while cars hit the track for the first practice session on Friday, 28 May.