Cam Waters hunting maiden Grand Final appearance
Tickford star was eliminated in dramatic scene last year
Waters sits sixth, 21 points behind Finals cut-line
The odds and form aren't on Tickford Racing's side, but Thomas Randle maintains "there is still plenty to play for" as Cam Waters aims to pull off come-from-behind Grand Final qualification.
The Ford team is in a form slump of sorts, having failed to record a top five finish in seven consecutive races, its longest such streak since 2007.
Waters surged into the championship discussion with brilliant rounds in Darwin and Townsville — scoring five of six podiums, two wins and three poles — but has since gone five rounds without silverware.
The Monster Energy Ford star started and ended the Gold Coast weekend ranked sixth, which puts him 21 points down heading to the Penrite Oil Sandown 500.
While happy to make it through, even after being disqualified from the Sunday Shootout, Waters — who was eliminated from the Finals at Sandown last year — isn't taking a backwards step.
Waters controversially crashed with Ford rival Matt Payne in the closing laps of the 2025 finale, which wiped both Mustangs stars out of the Finals.
"Great to be heading to a home round this week and still in the fight for the Finals,” said Waters, who has the best average qualifying position at Sandown of any current driver.
"Gold Coast was a tough weekend with all the weather but happy to make it through.
"Keen to bring the fight this week and get into the final four."
Randle is still chasing a second podium of the season, and first since Melbourne in March. A charge from 19th to 10th in the Gold Coast showed there is speed in the #55 Castrol Ford, which could prove pivotal should Waters need support to reach Adelaide.
"Gold Coast was tricky in parts, the wet weather was something we just could not get on top of for most of the weekend. It was great to have a Top Ten Shootout appearance as well as some serious car pace on Sunday, I also had a lot of fun getting some good overtakes in there and ending up in the top 10 to finish off our weekend.
"We know there is still plenty to play for in the team and I'm excited to build on the momentum that we had leaving the GC."
Track action at Sandown commences on Friday.
