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Wall hit costly, but Waters still in the hunt

14 Mar 2023
Tickford star just 57 points from leader Mostert
2 mins by James Pavey
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An innocuous Race 2 incident proved costly, but Cam Waters is still placed better than previous years after a season-opener.

Waters leaves the Thrifty Newcastle 500 just 57 points behind Ford rival Chaz Mostert in the drivers’ standings.

The Tickford Racing star entered Sunday’s action as championship leader for the first time after both Red Bull Ampol Camaros were disqualified.

Waters had come home third, but was promoted to first with Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney rubbed out of the results.

Midway through Sunday’s race, Waters shadowed Mostert for the effective race lead.

Had the two Fords finished in that order, Waters and Mostert would’ve headed to Albert Park level on points.

However, Waters clouted the inside wall at Turn 9 on lap 48 while under the nose of the #25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang.

It damaged a steering arm in Waters’ #6 Monster Ford, consigned him to a long stop, and led to an eventual 12th place finish.

In one fell swoop, Waters ceded 66 points to Mostert, who came home second behind defending champion van Gisbergen.

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While the incident stung, Waters hasn’t been this close to the points lead since his rookie season in 2016, when he left Round 1 just 38 points down.

After Round 1, Waters has been 123 points behind twice (2018 and 2019), 117 points (2021), 90 points (2017), 87 points (2022) and 57 points (2020).

The 2023 season is Waters’ eighth as a full-time driver, and it comes after another season racing on speedways around rural Victoria.

Waters chases Mostert before the fateful incident

Speaking after Saturday’s race, Waters said his off-season racing had "100 per cent" sharpened his focus heading into another title bid.

"Not the ending we would have liked today,” he posted to social media after Race 2.

“Bumped the wall hunting down Chaz and bent an arm which put us down the order.

“Still awesome to come away with the win yesterday, hopefully we can repeat that next round.”

Brodie Kostecki splits Mostert and Waters in the standings, with David Reynolds and Andre Heimgartner fourth and fifth.

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the Beaurepaires Melbourne SuperSprint on March 30-April 2.

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