'Not quick enough': Waters' blunt response to Tickford woes
Cam Waters, Thomas Randle both failed to progress from Q1 on Sunday
Waters has qualified 11th or worse seven times since Sydney pole sweep
Randle has qualified 11th or worse 13 times in 25 attempts this season
"We're just not quick enough."
They what the blunt assessment by Cam Waters of what was a double Q1 elimination effort by Tickford Racing at Queensland Raceway.
Waters and Thomas Randle will start from 19th and 23rd for Sunday's Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440, with both Tickford Mustangs unable to land a blow.
After nailing three poles from as many efforts in Sydney, Waters has qualified 11th or worse seven times since. It's a tougher story for Randle, who has qualified 11th or worse 13 times in 25 attempts.
"We're just not quick enough," admitted a blunt Waters after Q1.
"We thought we found some gains yesterday, it's just this tyre we're struggling on.
"[We're struggling] pretty much the exit of pit lane, right until we come in, just not making grip at the moment, so something is out of the window for sure."
While Waters is odds-on to reach The Finals, Randle is currently ninth and 82 points ahead of 11th. In 13 starts since his podium in Tasmania, Randle has an average finish of 12.9.
"What do they? If you don't laugh you'll cry," said Randle.
"It's been a pretty trying weekend for us, we just haven't quite got our head around the Soft tyre here, so we've got a lot of work to do.
"We tried a few things overnight across the cars, but pretty much haven't been separated us two, it's just wherever we are in the field.
"Obviously we really wanted to make it through there and into the Shootout, but we're a fair way off that, so a lot of digging to be done between now and the race."
The 10 fastest drivers return to the track on Sunday for the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout (11:40am AEST), which sets the grid for the 200km Race 25 (3:15pm AEST).
