25 best Supercars drivers since 2000: #22 Cam Waters
As 2025 gets underway, Supercars.com is ranking the top 25 drivers of the last 25 years, continuing with Cam Waters, who comes in as our #22.
The current one lap master of the Repco Supercars Championship, Cam Waters has become the leading man at Tickford Racing, and often for Ford.
Hailing from Mildura, it was an unusual introduction to Supercars for Waters, who got his first Bathurst start at just 17 years old after winning the Shannons Supercar Showdown reality TV program in 2011.
Signed to Ford Performance Racing's Super2 program in 2014, he claimed the title in 2015, before being promoted to the main game in the Monster Energy colours he is now synonymous with.
Waters has remained with the team ever since, becoming a constant threat for pole positions, race wins, and championships, and began to expand his horizons to NASCAR in 2024.
Cam Waters' key stats since 2000
Years active: 2011-2012, 2014-present
Rounds: 129
Races: 275
Best championship position: 2nd (2020, 2022)
Best finish: 1st (15 wins)
Top three finishes: 55
Best start: 1st (29 pole positions)
Best Bathurst result: 2nd (2020, 2021)
The highlight
Whilst he announced himself on the scene by claiming a stunning debut win at the 2017 Sandown 500 alongside Richie Stanaway, it's his 2020 Bathurst 1000 pole lap that gets the nod.
Having provisionally qualified fourth in Friday qualifying on a 2:04.1056s, Waters was the seventh car to go out in Saturday's Top Ten Shootout.
Waters threw everything at Mount Panorama, and showed unrivalled commitment through McPhillamy Park on his way to a scorching 2:03.5592s, more than half a second up on his Friday time.
The final three cars couldn't get anywhere near Waters' benchmark, with Scott McLaughlin, himself the qualifying master of the period, qualifying second almost half a second off the pace of the Monster Mustang.
It was the ultimate demonstration of everything that makes Waters such an exciting talent.
Why we picked him
Phenomenally fast on his day, Waters has become one of the top drivers in the field, and is absolutely untouchable on his day.
Through some tough periods for the Tickford organisation as a four-car team, Waters has often carried the Campbellfield outfit on his back as the team leader following Mark Winterbottom's departure in 2018.
Waters has garnered a reputation as one of the most aggressive drivers in the field, and often finds himself in fierce combat with former teammate and good friend Chaz Mostert, with several high-profile collisions along the way.
But it was against Shane van Gisbergen that Waters had some of his most memorable moments, often proving to be the Kiwi's biggest challenge during his reign of utter dominance at the start of the decade.
The pair's remarkable fight for the win at the final ever race held at Pukekohe in 2022 will live long in the memory of those who saw it, and was one of the most intense Supercars battles in recent memory.
The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.
