Last year's GTP champion is set to be back with AO Racing and fly with Spike to the promise land.
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00:00All right, we're joined with with Dane Cameron who enters his first season here with AO Racing in the LMP2 class
00:07Riding a spike. I gotta ask Dane as PJ asked you to wear the dragon costume
00:12And has that been a question that's been asked yet?
00:14It hasn't it hasn't come up yet, but I was at a different team that had hot dog hats at one point
00:19So I think I'll survive
00:21Fair enough fair enough last season big year for you winning the GTP championship
00:26You depart Porsche come into this new LMP2 venture LMP2 class is looking really exciting
00:32So I would say are you to be a part of this program a growing program at AO Racing and and and also
00:36Get a chance to race against some some really good competition this year
00:40Yeah, certainly
00:41LMP2 is incredibly competitive obviously spec category all the same, you know tools more or less for everybody a lot of great talents involved as well
00:50You know some up-and-coming guys and more established guys in sports cars
00:54So it won't be easy for sure. But yeah, I think it's a really nice opportunity here at AO
01:00PJ did a fantastic job last year with his pace. So, you know, I think the team's looking to take that next step
01:06So it's a nice opportunity
01:08I think to be a part of that and hopefully, you know
01:10We can have the success that everybody desires and get spikes and race wins and hopefully a championship
01:14It's your first time in the LMP2 class since 2022. So it's been a bit since you've been in this class
01:20Obviously been focused on your GTP program with Porsche and and having a lot of success there
01:25But what have you seen the growth in this class over the years from that last stint that you had an LMP2 to now?
01:31What has been the biggest difference that you've seen so far?
01:34Yeah, it's always I mean when I did LMP2
01:37We were doing the stuff in Europe kind of preparing for that as I was gonna do kind of my first foray into European
01:42Racing, it's a little bit different, you know tire downforce package things like that
01:47So to jump back here in the IMSA spec one feels super comfortable because it's more or less, you know
01:52Lower powered version of when I was in DPI kind of thing and it always felt really comfortable in that category
01:57So, you know, that's been a nice thing to just jump right back into
02:01But yeah, it's certainly be challenging. I think in a lot of different ways. So it's
02:07Hard when everybody has the same stuff, isn't it?
02:09You know, so that separation I think will become challenging comes down to the team that we have around us
02:15You know, hopefully lean on them and
02:18Talk to me. Thanks talked about 2024 with Felipe earlier last year
02:22I mean just seemed like you guys clicked and you guys kind of just were able to kind of bounce off each other if you
02:27Will in terms of the success, I mean just encapsulate 2024 and what that brought
02:31I mean and getting a GTP championship and it really does seem like
02:35obviously, I know you're departed now from Porsche, but it does seem like Porsche and
02:40Penske had really grew a lot last year with the program
02:44Uh, yeah, I mean Felipe and I
02:47Were together through a lot of the development process of that car. We did the two racing together
02:53So, yeah, and obviously and then we competed against each other in DPI so we knew each other fairly well
02:58It's really got on super well
03:00You know, I think we have the same approach to the racing here what it takes to win the championship
03:05Obviously, he's been quite successful in in the limited number of years that he's been here. So
03:10And somebody I always respected quite a lot when we were racing against each other
03:14So yeah, it was super enjoyable to share the car with him. We got on well trust each other. Well, which is key
03:19He was truly phenomenal here at Daytona when it came to close the deal at the end, which is amazing
03:26and then yeah from there we were able to just sort of
03:28Just do the right things all year
03:30We had a couple of little bubbles a little bit late started to almost slip away a little bit
03:34but for the most part, yeah, it was a really nice year that
03:37We just sort of seemed like we had in control for most of the year, you know
03:42And yeah, the car and the group made a step forward and yeah, it's not to be I think undersold for any of this
03:47You know ale included that the difficulties in building a team from scratch are a challenge, you know, so I think that
03:54PPM group made a made a step from year one to year two with the car with the team and everything
03:59It was great to be there to capitalize on it
04:02But I'm also yeah, hugely excited about the future potential I have here
04:07I nice to have the owner have an owner that that also drives as well
04:10you know having somebody who not only understands the business side of things in racing, but also
04:15Understands the car and is always trying to make it better as well
04:18How beneficial is that to have somebody like PJ behind the wheel with you guys and with the team? Yeah, it's good
04:24I mean PJ's I've only got to know him for the last couple of months
04:27Been a really great guy great teammate so far
04:30Obviously, he's quite new to this for also, but hugely talented, you know to have four positions last year in LP too
04:36So he's got tons of speed but still, you know a little bit inexperienced for some ways
04:40so, you know, I look forward to working together with him to guide him a little bit and
04:45And yeah, he's obviously providing us with everything that we need and he's there fully on the ground
04:50He knows what's important and what's not when you're when you're there and you're driving the car
04:53It does make it easier to to get certain things across the line, you know
04:57Not because selfishly they benefit him
04:59But it's quite easy to see the benefit of this out or the other when you're when he's in there or what's kind of lacking
05:04and things like that
05:05But he's been super supportive so far and really great to work with and I think
05:09Both of us feel like it should be a nice fit together moving forward
05:12Yeah
05:13and that's one thing about a racing so many young drivers within this program be with the LMP2 and then obviously with the GTD Pro
05:20Program as well
05:21So to be able to kind of you know
05:23Help and give advice obviously being a former Porsche driver and then now obviously
05:27Coming into this program with a lot of guys who are still kind of getting their footing if you will an IMSA
05:32You know, how has that been like, you know, is that something where you're able to give advice?
05:36How is it? You know, how is that dynamic been so far with the rest of the AO program?
05:39yeah, I mean the two teams if you want to call it that between Rexie and spike are slightly separate in a way just because
05:46There are different categories. It's in some different demands and things like that. So
05:50Yeah, the GT guys they know what they're doing after their performances last year, you know, they don't need any advice from me. But
05:57Yeah, I guess now at this point being at my advanced age if you will
06:04Yeah, you try to be somebody to lean on to a little bit
06:07it's really just leaning on all these experiences of being here for so long of
06:12Really seeing so many things go wrong really in a way right?
06:15It just ultimately that not always the best way to learn but certainly teaches you lessons on
06:20Just the small things that you see it could be anything from you know, the bungees that we run inside the cockpit
06:25You know something we were working on last week
06:27You always route them a certain way and you get in the car and you're like
06:30I think that's in a spot where it's gonna get kicked off. I've seen that before so we need to move that
06:34So just it's kind of little preventative things that you kind of learn across the way
06:39I
06:40Feel quite comfortable in the rules and things like that
06:43so you can kind of just always be that sounding board for people if they need something or have I have a question or
06:47not quite sure then you can kind of
06:50You know redirect a little bit to to what you feel it needs to be doesn't mean I always have the right answer
06:54I always try to lean and trust on the other people that are there, you know the engineering teams and things like that, but
07:00There are definitely things that I do feel strongly about that
07:03I have seen go right wrong or whatever or really things that can be difference makers and you try to just you know
07:08bring those little bits and you know, that's kind of the value you bring, you know when you're a
07:12seasoned sports car guy
07:16Starts to go beyond you know the driving the car, you know, I mean it more or less people can be
07:22Quite close together in terms of pace and things like that. But yeah, I've always tried to
07:27View it as a complete thing
07:29You know as a racing driver of I don't just want to get in it and drive it and walk away from it
07:34I want to work with the engineers
07:35I want to make everything as good as it can be try to have that attention to detail
07:39So I think they saw some value that it's all that I could bring some of that to the table and yeah
07:45That's why we're here
07:46Yeah, I mean just talking about you know this weekend and next weekend the Rolex 24 biggest race of the year
07:52You've seen the growth that this this race in terms of the numbers that it's got and and also with AO Racing
07:58I mean one of the most popular teams on the grid kids are always wanting to go up to them
08:03I mean, they got a hot wheel now like it's pretty wild to see how AO Racing has most kind of transcended if you will
08:10Become kind of a pop culture if you will type thing
08:13I mean, what is it like to to see the growth within?
08:16You know
08:17and so within the Rolex 24 and then also have that fan interaction as well where people can can relate to a dragon or
08:24Dinosaur fuel. So how cool is that to kind of be a part of a program that has has that backing and following?
08:29Yeah, I'm definitely excited about that. And then yeah, it's honestly I've been here for for a long time now in sports cars
08:34so it's it is cool to see it in such a healthy place and it seems like
08:38every year now you go to
08:41Sebring or Rotterdam or whatever and it's like man
08:43It's never been this full or it's never like been this hard to park or whatever, you know
08:47all those little things and
08:49It's cool, you know from the earlier days when you were here and it was always great racing and a great product
08:54but it
08:55Just seemed kind of like the small series in the corner that was half forgotten, you know
08:59So it's great to see it
09:00you know really stand on its own two legs now and really start to gain some traction and really get all the manufacturers involved and
09:06kind of get to that place that
09:08Those of us that have been here a long time really always believe that it could be, you know
09:12Be the product that it could be so it's really cool to
09:14have been a part of that and kind of ridden that wave up from when I was first here and
09:19Small private teams and then low budget deals to having, you know in the top of the food chain, you know the last couple of years
09:25so
09:26That's definitely been really neat to see and then yeah, it's honestly quite cool
09:30What a is done, you know with spike and Rexy and my my youngest is a big fan of the whole thing
09:36He's got all the stuffed animals and all the toys and all the things, you know, so
09:41It's simplicity is
09:44Genius really right? I mean this you think about it and yeah, there's great historic liveries throughout sports car racing and all racing history that are
09:52Remembered and are obviously largely tobacco based for the most part or whatever that there are these colors that you that you grab on to
09:58But yeah, it's it's so simple just to do something like this and to see how far it's gone
10:03It was really shocking in a way, but then you step back and look at it
10:06You're like, well, yeah a couple of lines and blues and yellows don't really mean anything to anybody
10:11But you kind of give them a character and PJ had said earlier today when you're here. He's like, you know
10:17If you look in other professional sports
10:19There is always that mascot and people like the mascot and the branding and the imaging and all that and the color schemes
10:24You know, that's a huge part of
10:27Other traditional professional sports in the u.s. Right, you know, so but nobody does it and motor racing
10:33So you can kind of see that sort of same thing unfolding here right in front of us with what a has done
10:39And it's just been even from a distance has been quite cool to see and definitely noticeable from a different spot in the paddock
10:45And yeah, I'm kind of looking forward to to seeing some of those interactions and seeing the kids, you know
10:50It's quite cool to see that see the children excited about I did a special helmet for this year to do a spike helmet
10:56Just for fun. Just kind of it. Yeah, I really wanted to embrace it. It looks sharp. I have to admit it looks
11:03Well Dane obviously good luck to you here this week and next week
11:06Hopefully you're gonna find some success and hopefully bring spike home into the victory lane here by the end of by the end of these
11:12Next two weeks. I hope so