Waters hints at Bathurst 12 Hour sandbagging
Cam Waters hints at Bathurst 12 Hour sandbagging
Mercedes-AMG scored a 1-2-3 qualifying sweep on Saturday
Ford ninth, BMW seventh and 12th, Pro Ferrari 19th, Pro Corvette 25th
Cam Waters has teased that his Saturday dominance at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour is not all that it seems at Mount Panorama.
It marked the German manufacturer’s record-extending sixth pole position for the Bathurst 12 Hour, with the 2026 edition to commence at 5:45am local time tomorrow.
However, as good as the 1-2-3 looks on paper, Waters suggested some teams and brands haven’t put their best foot forward.
The #32 WRT BMW paced Practice 1, before Mercedes-AMGs topped three of the next five sessions. The #55 Jamec/MPC Audi topped the other two.
Waters was brilliant in qualifying, before making another statement by clinching his maiden Allan Simonsen Pole Trophy.
Notably, the HRT Ford Mustang was ninth in the Pole Battle, the WRT BMWs seventh and 12th, and Pro class entries from EBM (Porsche) 15th, Optimum Motorsport (McLaren) 16th, Arise Racing (Ferrari) 19th, and JMR (Chevrolet) 25th.
“Tomorrow’s where it all counts,” Waters told media after Saturday’s Pole Battle.
"It’s so hard during these weekends to know where everyone is. I’m sure there’s people still sandbagging in qualifying and whatnot.
"For us, the Aussies, we just let it all out and see how we go. It’s probably worked pretty well for us for qualifying.”
The Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG has been on a tear this weekend, with the team led by serious Supercars firepower.
Waters, Supercars champion Chaz Mostert and Thomas Randle form an all-Aussie line-up, while Erebus Motorsport CEO Barry Ryan is managing the team.
Also a Bathurst 1000 pole winner on two occasions, Waters paid tribute to the bolstered STM team, and was hopeful the speed carries into Sunday. “We really tuned our car up over the day,” Waters said.
"Barry and Chaz and different Supercars people involved in the team have been really helpful, and really made the car a lot better.
"Hopefully that transitions into the race tomorrow.”
Sunday's race will be live on Foxtel and KAYO Sports.
