Motorsport: McConville calls it quits

Cameron McConville says he is 'over' the ups and downs of motor-racing. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - V8 Supercar driver Cameron McConville will retire from the sport at the end of the year because he is "over" the ups and downs of motor-racing.

The Holden driver, who finished second with partner Jason Richards at last month's Bathurst 1000, said a big crash at the SuperGP event on the Gold Coast convinced him it was the right time to step out of the sport.

McConville speared into a concrete wall at Surfers Paradise after clashing with Ford driver Fabian Coulthard.

That accident came just weeks after he had a spectacular crash in the early stages of the Phillip Island endurance race.

While the 35-year-old said he had made up his mind to retire before the Gold Coast event, the scare of the crash there had shown him he was making the right decision.

"Phillip Island didn't really spook me, as much as people liked to remind me that I was lucky," McConville told motorsport website speedcafe.com.au.

"The Indy crash, because I'd made my decision before that, I got out of the car and said `I'm over this'.

"You go from finishing second at Bathurst to being shoved into the wall 100 metres off the start.

"Certainly, when I got out of the car, I said I didn't need it anymore.

"I'm over the highs and lows. I just want a level playing field for a while.

"Less highs, maybe, it will be tough running a business, but hopefully the lows won't be anything like I've had in the last couple of months of motor racing."

McConville will start a new life as a business owner when the current V8 Supercar championship ends, acquiring a Jax Quickfit tyre outlet franchise in Victoria.

He will also continue his role as a special commentator for the Ten Network's Formula 1 coverage.

But while he is stepping away from a full-time drive in V8 Supercars, McConville was hoping to continue as a part-time driver in the endurance events.

"Most definitely. I still think I'm not passed my use-by date," he said.

"Obviously I want to do the enduros. I'd like to do them with a competitive team, as well as do the test days and the co-driver sessions, plus a couple of one-off races in other classes.

"But the business and family are priority and hopefully everything else can fit around that."

McConville made his V8 Supercar debut in 1999 at Sandown and won one race in his career, at Winton in 2004.

- AAP