How Tickford brought Frosty's racing passion back to life

Returning to Tickford Racing has had Mark Winterbottom rediscover his love for racing after a challenging end to life at Team 18.

The 2015 Supercars champion joins Cam Waters in one of the hottest driving combinations for this year’s Ryco Enduro Cup races at The Bend and Bathurst.

Winterbottom is the latest part of a generation of former champions turned star co-drivers, joining the likes of former rivals Jamie Whincup and Garth Tander.

After scoring laps at a Sydney ride day back in February, Winterbottom enjoyed a big day in Waters’ Monster Energy Ford Mustang at the recent Ipswich pre-enduro test.

There, the 2013 Bathurst winner was right on the pace, with Waters handing Winterbottom the reins for the balance of the day. Crucially, hitting that speed triggered a moment of reflection for the 44-year-old, whose final seasons with Team 18 delivered little results.

It comes as he also enjoys a new lease of life as a respected mentor with Tickford's rising stars, with junior drivers Rylan Gray and Lochie Daltion flying down to Winterbottom's book launch on Tuesday night.

“I actually hopped in and literally did the same lap times as Cam, and I felt good about myself again because I got beat up the last few years mentally,” Winterbottom told Supercars.com.

“Cam went in the truck, he didn't even get dressed. Ol’ buddy lied down, he said, ‘you've got this mate, you're killing it, off you go’.

"I think he slept for about four hours, so he trusted me. That was good. I think we get five practices at The Bend, so it’s pretty good. You get a few laps, but thankfully the tyres are really good now.

"You get more laps on them than what previous tyres would. Even when they're flogged, you still can have a fair old crack at pushing the car.

“He qualifies, and I'll start and be done by lunchtime, and then put my suit back on when he wins and go down the podium. That's what I signed up for.”

In 174 starts between 2019 and 2024 in Team 18 colours, Winterbottom claimed three podiums — one of which remains the team’s only win, at Hidden Valley in 2023 — and 69 top 10s, as well as the team's first pole in Tasmania.

Among many stories and topics in his new autobiography, titled Frosty, Winterbottom opened up on his split with Team 18.

The 39-time race winner claimed the tides turned when team owner Charlie Schwerkolt brought in team manager Adrian Burgess, with Anton De Pasquale announced as his replacement just months later.

“From the moment he arrived as team manager, things had begun to shift," Winterbottom wrote.

"Adrian had his own agenda, and it became increasingly clear that didn't include me.

"It wasn't a huge surprise given he was at the helm of Triple Eight from 2011 to 2013 during the height of my war with Whincup; I felt as though he still considered me the enemy.

"Adrian came in with his own ideas and was not interested in mine.

"Charlie had always listened to me, but he sided with Adrian once he was brought onto the team."

Winterbottom will race alongside Waters at this year's Ryco Enduro Cup, which begins at the AirTouch 500 at The Bend from September 12-14, before the Repco Bathurst 1000 from October 9-12. Tickets are on sale now.