Now the 19-year-old is racing in the Toyota 86 Series at Bathurst 1000 – he has come a long way since cruising around in a little motorised jeep at the age of two.

The series is a stepping stone for Hill as he eyes a spot in the V8 Supercars second-tier Dunlop Series or the Porsche Carrera Cup.

Racing at Bathurst is the perfect opportunity for Hill to take that step, being in front of all the people he needs to be in front of.

Going around in his practice run was the first time he'd driven around the track – "a pretty eye-opening experience" for someone that has dreamed of that moment for as long as he can remember.

Hill fondly remembers being at race meetings as a youngster, soaking up the atmosphere and the unmistakeable smell drifting through the air.

It's why his head is spinning and heart pounding through his chest as he sits in the car, readying himself for a race.

"It's something that's always been a part of me," Hill said.

"Before the race I try to keep a pretty clear mind, I know what I want to achieve when I get there but I don't plan for anything.

"You can't help it though. Your heartbeat starts to rise and you start to feel that anxiety before the race, but that's a good thing.

"I think if you're too calm before the race it can actually go against you so it's important to be ready and in the right mind frame before the race."

However things didn't all go to plan leading into his first race on Saturday.

Fog meant the qualifying session start was delayed, and Hill only got one lap in before a red flag was raised for a car stuck at the top of a hill.

With about half the field not getting a lap, news filtered through that qualifying would be scrapped and combined practice times would set the grid.

It means Hill will start eighth, despite sitting in fourth fastest in the qualifying before it was brought to a halt.

If you see a red Toyota stamped with Lifeline and R U OK? logos on race day, that would be the kid from Canberra.

Hill is a Lifeline ambassador and sees racing as a platform to remove the stigma around mental health.

Progression to the next level would be a remarkable achievement for the Hill family. It isn't just Cameron in the car, everyone plays a hand at the race meetings.

"We won the [Formula Ford] national title last year, just as a father-son team which is what we're doing now," Hill said.

"We don't run with a professional outfit. We just maintain and prepare the cars in our workshop [Colin Hill Engineering] in Queanbeyan and we travel to the races."