Race 29 podium feels like a win: Waters
After a challenging four weeks of racing, Cameron Waters admits his maiden podium at Sydney Motorsport Park feels like a win.
Waters finished third in the rain-affected Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight opener.
The #6 Monster Energy Mustang driver led for the majority of Race 29 but lost to a charging Shane van Gisbergen in the dying laps.
It marks the first podium result for Waters since his won the WD-40 Townsville SuperSprint finale in July.
Van Gisbergen led teammate Jamie Whincup in a Red Bull Ampol Racing one-two, with the duo benefitting from wet weather and their Super Soft tyre strategy.
It comes after a run of difficult weekends for Waters, who had managed just four top 10s in nine starts at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Despite losing out to van Gisbergen and Whincup, Waters was delighted to bring a trophy home to Tickford.
“I’ve kind of forgotten what this feels like,” he said.
“We have had such a tough run here at SMP, so massive credit to all the guys that have pushed through the whole time.
“When we have been down, they have still got back up and still given me the best car they could have.
“It would have been nice to give the P1, but a podium feels like a win.”
In a timely turn-around for the the Mildura-born driver, Waters muscled his way through the lead pack and picked off Whincup for the lead on lap 12.
He raced off into the distance, only coming under fire from a charging Will Brown with seven laps to go.
However, as the rain returned and intensified, the Red Bull Ampol drivers came alive, with van Gisbergen chasing down Brodie Kostecki, Chaz Mostert and Brown, before setting after Waters.
Unable to defend on his worn Hard tyres, Waters ceded the lead to van Gisbergen on lap 62, then second to Whincup moments later.
“As soon as the rain came, I knew I was going to struggle a bit with them [Red Bull Ampol duo] on the Super Softs,” Waters explained.
“I knew he had the Soft on and I knew he was closing pretty quick, so I was counting down the laps and keep a gap and make no mistakes.
“He was probably on the better tyre for those conditions, but it is what it is.
“If it didn’t rain, I think we would have had half a chance.
“It’s been tough to be honest with you, the boys deserve a lot more than what we have given them this weekend.
“They have been pushing as hard as they can, doing all the changes that we needed to.
“The engineers have been scratching their heads and still rocking up and giving it 100 percent.
“Massive credit to the guys, wish I could have given them the win, but this will do.”
Cars will return to the track for ARMOR ALL Qualifying on Sunday at 10:50am AEST. Click here to view the race schedule.
Every session of the event will be broadcast live on Foxtel (Fox Sports 506) and streamed on Kayo.
The Seven Network will provide live free to air coverage of the event. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
