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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Cameron Lands Test With AMR
Rising sports car star to test factory Aston Martin Vantage V8 at Road Atlanta this week, eyes potential future in WEC...
While a being a GT class winner with Team Sahlen, which moved up to DP this year, Dane Cameron has also starred behind the wheel of Dempsey Racing's prototype machinery in the ALMS. (Photo: John Dagys)
Aston Martin Racing’s increased presence at Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship has resulted in the British manufacturer searching for some new driving talent, including reaching out to this side of the pond.
Dane Cameron, one of America’s rising sports car racing stars, is one of a handful of drivers that will try out Aston Martin’s GTE-spec Vantage in a test Wednesday and Thursday at Road Atlanta, in preparation for the team’s attack in next weekend’s Twelve Hours of Sebring.
While the 24-year-old California native, a race winner in GRAND-AM who has also starred in American Le Mans Series prototype machinery, is not expected to be a part of AMR’s lineup for the ALMS season opener, he’s hoping a positive first impression could lead to a future drive with the factory squad, which is now expected to field five entries in the WEC this year.
Cameron will be joined at the two-day test by fellow American hopeful Billy Johnson, former Peugeot factory ace Pedro Lamy, Lotus F1 development driver Richie Stanaway and Paul Dalla Lana, who is spearheading efforts for the additional Vantage V8 in the global sports car championship.
SPEED.com caught up with Cameron to get his thoughts ahead of the test and his future prospects.
Q: How did this opportunity come about?
CAMERON: It's related with Paul being part of his new venture over there. I was hoping to get a chance to race with them but they're full up for Sebring. But he was kind enough to give me some laps at their test this week. I'm really grateful to him for the opportunity to get in one of those cars and to test for a factory operation.
I'm really excited for it. It's not necessarily a tryout or a test. But it's nice to get a foot in the door and to get in front of those people is half the battle. I'll go do my normal thing and try to do a good job. Who knows what will happen down the road.
Q: Do you think this could lead to a future drive?
CAMERON: I hope so. It will be my first introduction to all of the people at AMR. Just getting to know everyone and hopefully we'll click. If I do a good job in the cars, who knows what that could lead to in the future.
They have their fifth car for Le Mans, which is great for them, as well as extended programs in America and Europe. I'm not involved with any of that right now, but I hope this could lead to that.
Q: What are your expectations of the Vantage GTE?
CAMERON: I've never driven a GTE-spec car, so I'm really looking forward to that. I've been in several different Rolex GT cars and some different ALMS prototypes and DPs. It's been the one thing I've sort of missed on. So I'm excited to see what that category is like.
They're similar speeds to a Daytona Prototype but it's still a GT car. I'm not too sure what to expect, but I guess in some ways it's a good thing not to go there with any preconceived notions on what it's going to be like. At the end of the day, I've driven many different styles of cars, so I think I'll be able to get up to speed.
Q: Does racing in the WEC interest you?
CAMERON: Yes, greatly. That's something I really, really would like to do. I got a chance to race in Europe when I was 17 through the Team USA Scholarship with Jeremy Shaw. I loved it. I would really enjoy the format of the races and the traveling and schedule and the premier events and that sort of thing.
I want to go to Le Mans and win Le Mans and that's obviously part of that calendar. To be in a World Championship and travel to all of those racetracks in each country is awesome. I hope it sticks around and continues to gain strength. It's something that's definitely on my radar that I'd love to be part of.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Dane Cameron, one of America’s rising sports car racing stars, is one of a handful of drivers that will try out Aston Martin’s GTE-spec Vantage in a test Wednesday and Thursday at Road Atlanta, in preparation for the team’s attack in next weekend’s Twelve Hours of Sebring.
While the 24-year-old California native, a race winner in GRAND-AM who has also starred in American Le Mans Series prototype machinery, is not expected to be a part of AMR’s lineup for the ALMS season opener, he’s hoping a positive first impression could lead to a future drive with the factory squad, which is now expected to field five entries in the WEC this year.
Cameron will be joined at the two-day test by fellow American hopeful Billy Johnson, former Peugeot factory ace Pedro Lamy, Lotus F1 development driver Richie Stanaway and Paul Dalla Lana, who is spearheading efforts for the additional Vantage V8 in the global sports car championship.
SPEED.com caught up with Cameron to get his thoughts ahead of the test and his future prospects.
Q: How did this opportunity come about?
CAMERON: It's related with Paul being part of his new venture over there. I was hoping to get a chance to race with them but they're full up for Sebring. But he was kind enough to give me some laps at their test this week. I'm really grateful to him for the opportunity to get in one of those cars and to test for a factory operation.
I'm really excited for it. It's not necessarily a tryout or a test. But it's nice to get a foot in the door and to get in front of those people is half the battle. I'll go do my normal thing and try to do a good job. Who knows what will happen down the road.
Q: Do you think this could lead to a future drive?
CAMERON: I hope so. It will be my first introduction to all of the people at AMR. Just getting to know everyone and hopefully we'll click. If I do a good job in the cars, who knows what that could lead to in the future.
They have their fifth car for Le Mans, which is great for them, as well as extended programs in America and Europe. I'm not involved with any of that right now, but I hope this could lead to that.
Q: What are your expectations of the Vantage GTE?
CAMERON: I've never driven a GTE-spec car, so I'm really looking forward to that. I've been in several different Rolex GT cars and some different ALMS prototypes and DPs. It's been the one thing I've sort of missed on. So I'm excited to see what that category is like.
They're similar speeds to a Daytona Prototype but it's still a GT car. I'm not too sure what to expect, but I guess in some ways it's a good thing not to go there with any preconceived notions on what it's going to be like. At the end of the day, I've driven many different styles of cars, so I think I'll be able to get up to speed.
Q: Does racing in the WEC interest you?
CAMERON: Yes, greatly. That's something I really, really would like to do. I got a chance to race in Europe when I was 17 through the Team USA Scholarship with Jeremy Shaw. I loved it. I would really enjoy the format of the races and the traveling and schedule and the premier events and that sort of thing.
I want to go to Le Mans and win Le Mans and that's obviously part of that calendar. To be in a World Championship and travel to all of those racetracks in each country is awesome. I hope it sticks around and continues to gain strength. It's something that's definitely on my radar that I'd love to be part of.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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