The Bathurst hurt driving Waters

A combined 4.6s is all Cam Waters has lost the last two Bathurst 1000s by.

Considering how close he has come, and in the wake of his Pukekohe defeat, he is determined to avoid a repeat.

Waters was pipped at the post by Shane van Gisbergen in a thrilling final race at Pukekohe last weekend.

The Tickford Racing driver was first to congratulate van Gisbergen after their thrilling battle.

However, it was the latest in a line of near-misses for Waters, who has consolidated second in the points.

Mount Panorama has been the scene of much heartbreak for Waters, who has never won the race.

Waters started the 2020 race from pole position, but missed out to van Gisbergen by 0.86s.

Last year, he and James Moffat were never really in the hunt, yet crossed the line just 3.74s from victory.

Given he has proven van Gisbergen’s closest challenger this season, Waters believes he and his team have found what’s needed to claim Bathurst glory.

“2020 was hard, it was so close,” Waters said in New Zealand.

“It was a similar battle to today, we threw everything at it and came out second.

“Last year, we weren’t really quick enough to win it. Coming second again hurts.

“A lot of thought’s been put into Bathurst to work out what we need to go there to win it.

“We know what we did well in 2020, and last year.

Waters and Moffat were second last year

“We’ve learned a lot this year.

“I’m pretty eager to get there and win it."

Tickford boss Tim Edwards reiterated the sentiment, saying Waters is in a “good space” to attack the Mountain.

Waters finished on the podium in all three New Zealand races, underlying his consistency.

"Certainly Cam had a really strong weekend, and I know he’s gutted not to hold on in the last race,” Edwards said of the Pukekohe finale.

“But two thirds and a second are certainly good for the championship and puts him in a good space ahead of Bathurst.

"We’ll turn our attention to the big one coming up, no doubt we have one goal there and we’ll show up ready to get after it.”

This year’s Great Race will be held on October 9.

Tickets for the Repco Bathurst 1000 are available on Supercars.com and Ticketek.