Final round shot
Shields geared for late championship bid
Toowoomba teenage driver Cameron Shields will have everything to gain and nothing to lose when he looks to close his racing year on a high note at the Gold Coast this weekend.
Sixteen-year-old Shields will make a late bid for success in the 2017 Australian Formula 4 Championship which winds up this week at the gala Gold Coast 600 meeting.
The Year 11 Toowoomba Grammar School student sits in second championship place on 268 points behind leader Nick Lowe (320) entering the final of seven season rounds.
Shields’ BRM team-mate Liam Lawson holds down third place on 238 points.
Shields has enjoyed a stellar year at the wheel.
He also finished a close second behind Max Vidau in the 2017 Australian Formula Ford Championship after winning eight of the last nine season races.
Shields’ eight Formula Ford victories places him alongside Jamie Whincup on the all-time winner’s list.
He will need a similar lightning finish this weekend to snatch the Formula 4 Championship from Lowe.
“I’m behind by a reasonable margin but it’s still possible to catch Nick,” Shields said.
“I’ll need to win all three races this week and rely on Nick having some bad luck and that is my aim.”
Shields has worked his way into title contention after a “few car dramas” in the first round of the series and is looking forward to testing himself for the first time on the demanding Gold Coast street circuit.
“I’ve been there as a spectator but it should be an awesome atmosphere,” Shields said.
“I’ve done a fair bit of work on the simulator and we start out with two practise sessions on Friday.
“Obviously it would be a big achievement to win but I’ve still had a good year.”