Winterbottom 'gutted' to cost Waters Bathurst victory shot
Mark Winterbottom 'gutted' to cost Cam Waters Bathurst shot
Waters/Winterbottom fought for Bathurst lead approaching halfway mark
Winterbottom crashed at Forrest's Elbow, Waters finished 12th
Mark Winterbottom has owned the mistake that ultimately cost the hot favourite #6 Monster Energy Ford a shot at victory in the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Cam Waters/Winterbottom were in the hunt in the first half of the race, Waters fighting for the lead with pole man Brodie Kostecki as rain arrived.
In a manic sequence, Waters and Kostecki stopped on lap 66, and a Safety Car saw those who opted to stay out make a bold call.
Jamie Whincup and Winterbottom didn't opt for wet tyres, but rainfall forced both cars back in. On cold tyres, Winterbottom crashed into the barriers at the Elbow.
The Monster Ford dropped a lap amid running repairs. Waters got back on the lead lap through a series of Safety Cars, but took the chequered flag 12th, his Bathurst and Ryco Enduro Cup hopes dashed.
With his closest championship rivals all hitting trouble, Waters could have jumped to as high as second in the championship, and could have been second seed for the Elimination Final on the Gold Coast.
To frustrate Tickford Racing further, Waters and Winterbottom had a bungled driver change, with the seat belt falling down the side of the seat.
At the time, Waters didn't lay any of the blame on Winterbottom or the team's gamble, saying: "I think he might've locked a brake or something, so unfortunate, the track's obviously super slippery.”
Speaking in a social video, 2013 Bathurst winner Winterbottom didn’t hide behind his error, with Waters now winless in 14 Bathurst appearances.
“Got to start and we were going okay, but just needed to tune the car up a little bit,” Winterbottom said.
“Then Cam got in and did a really good job. You know, he was muscling Brodie there and got the car to the front and then the rain came in.
“I dunno, we just lost our way a little bit. I'm not sure what happened. We pitted and we were pitting, we weren't pitting, then we pitted and then couldn't get the belt on because it fell down the side.
“Sort of one thing flowed onto the next. And then I went on to slicks and then I went on to wets. And, yeah, ultimately at the end of the day, I made a mistake and cost Cam a chance of fighting at the end.
"I'm pretty gutted in myself to be honest. You know, you pride yourself on not making mistakes. Locking a tyre and nudging the fence is on me. So, yeah, tough."
