Waters hits out after last lap scare

Cam Waters had enough fuel for 68 laps in the final race of the NTI Townsville 500.

Nothing more. Nothing less. It was anything but Plan A.

The Monster Mustang flew to superb pole in the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout, and fended off a charging Ryan Wood at the start of Race 22 to comfortably lead the opening stint of the race.

However, Brodie Kostecki and Matt Payne both jumped ahead with an undercut through the first pit stop cycle, though he got back by Payne on lap 38.

But the last stop was a tough one, with a bobble on the change of tyres compounded by not getting their full churn of fuel in. So slow was the stop that Chaz Mostert looked a chance to claim a podium.

Mostert had no answer when Waters went by with eight laps to go, but then questions arose around whether or not he could make it home with his compromised fuel load.

Those questions became concerns when engineer Sam Potter called for "maximum fuel save," though Waters did just enough to coast home in third.

Waters knew Kostecki was in another league, but was disappointed that a chance to fight for second went by the wayside, and also took aim at fuel saving measures that have become more commonplace in fuel churn races.

"I don't think I would've got to Brodie, but his middle stint was amazing, that really set up his race," said Waters in the post-race press conference.

"I probably reckon I could've got to the back of Matt, which would've been a really cool battle, but just obviously didn't have enough fuel in the car, and had to fuel save.

"It's just kind of the way it's been with these fuel churns, it's all about saving fuel, and it's a pretty shit way to go racing."

Tickford CEO Simon Brookhouse also admitted that small mistakes have been a feature of his team's performances throughout the 2026 season, but was also proud of the turnaround seen since Darwin.

The newfound speed for Waters and teammate Thomas Randle in Townsville has left Brookhouse optimistic that the team can keep building into the second half of the season.

"We're still making little errors and whatnot which we've got to get on top of," added Brookhouse.

"It is a long season, and as far as we're concerned, we're continuing to improve, but we've still got a lot more improvement within us.

"I hope we come out firing again in Perth, and show that more improvement, and see if we get a few more wins."