What Waters wants to avoid another Sandown shocker

Having dropped out of the Finals in dramatic fashion last November, Cam Waters is determined to make his presence felt as he aims to secure a Grand Final berth.

The Tickford Racing driver arrives at Sandown amid a lean run of form for his team, with Waters chasing his first podium since Townsville in July.

While the form guide is not on Waters' side when it comes progressing to Adelaide, the Ford star knows it'll take a big performance to get past the Semi Final, something he failed to do 12 months ago, while also hoping for others' misfortune.

After a nondescript Saturday in 2025, racing from ninth to 12th, Waters clashed with Will Brown and Matt Payne on Sunday to fall out of the Finals before the title decider.

A year on, he wants to throw everything at Saturday in order to keep himself in the game, and avoid putting extra pressure on himself on Sunday.

"Last year we obviously didn't make it through," Waters told media in Melbourne.

"Really, just the Saturday race for us hurt us. We weren't quick enough, didn't get the points we needed, then it was do or die on Sunday.

"We had to throw everything at it to make it through, and we didn't make it through.

"This year, it's all about rocking up to Saturday and making sure we're competitive, get better points, and hopefully we make it through."

The Mildura-born Melbourne local is keen to repeat his efforts from 2017 and win his way through to Adelaide, where he finally broke through for a win in 2023.

"Obviously I love Sandown, nice and close to home and I've won here before, got my first race win in 2017, which was quite a long time ago now.

"This weekend is going to be pretty cut-throat. I'm currently sixth, got to make it into the [top] four to get to Adelaide.

"You're going to feel the intensity this weekend for sure step up, and everyone is going to throw it all on the line to make it through."

The Penrite Oil Sandown 500 begins with two practice sessions on Friday November 6.