Tickford finding consistent form ahead of Finals Series
Cam Waters one of three drivers to contend for Sprint Cup in Ipswich
Thomas Randle has nearly halved his Finals deficit in last two rounds
Tickford have well and truly flipped the script from their 2025 season in 2026.
Whilst the former factory Ford squad claimed all three of their wins last year at the opening round of the season in Sydney, this year Waters had to wait until Race 17 at Darwin for his first win.
Teammate Thomas Randle, meanwhile, looked to be in a world of hurt when he missed the final race in Darwin after a cool suit failure, sitting some 230 points outside the Finals bubble.
Just two rounds later, Waters remains in Repco Sprint Cup contention leading into the Ipswich finale alongside Matt Payne and Broc Feeney, whilst Randle has all but halved his gap to Finals with his two strongest weekends of the season.
At the forefront has been a breakthrough in qualifying performances, with both Waters and Randle qualifying inside the top 10 for each of the six races across the last two rounds in Townsville and Perth.
The breakthrough came at a critical time, especially in the case of Randle's season, but Tickford Director of Motorsport and co-owner Rod Nash admits that the team are still chasing a final edge in race trim.
"It was a solid weekend but we’re still struggling to find the final bit of balance in the car. That’s why we’re just a little bit off the front-running pace,” Nash said.
“It was good to have both cars solidly in the top 10 in Perth. Even if we didn’t make the podium we’re still solid.
"Qualifying was a strength for both Cam Waters and Tommy Randle, in every session. No question they are both solidly top 10 on one-lap pace, and Tom moved forward all weekend with his consistency.
“This game is pretty tough and gruelling, but having the consistency with both cars is what leads you strongly into the Finals. So we’ll just keep working away.”
Randle, meanwhile, was critical of a mistake he made at the final corner in Sunday's Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout, a lock up sending him wide when he looked on course to jump forward from provisional qualifying.
Regardless, now sitting just 119 points outside the bubble with 915 available before the Finals field is set following the Repco Bathurst 1000, the 2020 Super2 champion is adamant there is more potential to unlock.
"Today started off pretty strong we were really fast in qualifying, but made a bit of a mistake at the final corner on my Shootout lap," said Randle in a team video.
"Probably cost us four spots, but had a decent start. Obviously [Ryan] Woody didn't start, so were up to seventh, and then I made a little mistake at [Turn] 1, got drilled , lost three spots back to 10th and that's where we finished.
"I'd say still, certainly more confident with our qualy package at the moment, just need to get on top of the race car a little bit. A bit more homework to do, but some promising stuff."
Tickford are third in the teams' championship, with Waters and Randle third and 12th in the drivers' standings, ahead of the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440 from August 21-23.
