Tickford gambles backfire for Waters/Winterbottom

Tickford Racing's Bathurst pain has continued with a series of backfired gambles that culminated in a crash for Mark Winterbottom.

The Monster Energy Ford was in the hunt as rain closed in on Mount Panorama, with Cam Waters fighting for the lead with pole-sitter Brodie Kostecki.

Through a crazy sequence of racing, the two Fords stopped on lap 66. A Safety Car for the beached Nash Morris 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 slid into the barriers at the Elbow, leaving the 2013 Bathurst winner seething over team radio.

"That was the tyre change. That's what triggered this," Neil Crompton said in commentary.

"They're so impossibly difficult to drive in these conditions on a slick tyre."

Mark Skaife added: "Just watch this. How slow... it's seriously like the car park. Just absolutely no grip at all."

The #6 Ford dropped a lap amid running repairs, with Winterbottom 23rd at the time of publication on lap 80.

Waters didn't lay any of the blame on Winterbottom or the team's gamble when he spoke on broadcast, but seemed resigned to the fact that a bid for a maiden Bathurst win was over.

"Obviously I got out of the car, I didn't have the best driver change, and then obviously the conditions are quite tricky," said the two-time Bathurst polesitter.

"I think Frosty put it in at Forrest's Elbow, I think he might've locked a brake or something, so unfortunate, the track's obviously super slippery.

"We've obviously got a bit of damage now. I'll get back in, hopefully the car's not that bad.

"If we get a Safety Car, we'll see what happens."