The 'super important' part of Waters/Randle pairing

Cam Waters keen to be pushed by Thomas Randle in 2024
Waters and Randle to lead Tickford next season
Tickford has one drivers' title; has finished second in teams' seven times

Having Thomas Randle fighting with him at the front is “super important” to Cam Waters and Tickford Racing, which will enter 2024 as a two-car team.

On Monday, Waters and Randle were officially confirmed as Tickford’s two full-time drivers for the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship.

Prior to 2024, Tickford had run at least three cars since 2010, with the likes of Rod Nash Racing, Team 18, Super Black Racing, Britek Motorsport and 23Red Racing all running satellite entries.

Come the new season, and the Campbellfield squad will put its energy into two Fords, with two Super2 champions to steer the ship.

Where Waters was already a proven winner, Randle made a statement in the second half of 2023 with solo podiums at The Bend and Adelaide, and a maiden pole position.

Critically, Randle followed Waters home in two races, with the duo helping Tickford getting two cars on a race podium for the first time since Sandown 2019.

Should he and Randle both be fighting at the pointy end, Waters thinks Tickford will a team to beat in 2024.

When asked about the prospect of Randle fighting with him at the front in 2024, Waters said: “It’s super important.

“Tom’s gotten progressively better and better in his time in the main game. It’s awesome to be part of that, I helped guide him a little bit to start with.

“Now he’s pushing me and sometimes beating me, and that’s what I want — I want someone up there with me.

“Pushing each other, we’ve got a really great working relationship. I think next year, we’re going to be pretty good.”

The Ford team has a drivers’ championship — Mark Winterbottom in 2015 — to its name, but has yet to win a teams’ championship.

The team finished second in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, before DJR Team Penske became the dominant Ford squad from 2017.

A superb end to 2023 saw Tickford leapfrog Dick Johnson Racing to fourth in the teams’ standings, with Tickford beating DJR in the teams’ points for the first time since 2016.

Given the team is “more streamlined” with two cars, Randle believes 2023 is Tickford’s best chance of winning both championships.

Tickford team owner Rod Nash added: “With Cam and Thomas leading our charge, we are laser-focused on elevating to the full potential of what our race team has been working on over the last couple of years.

"Cam is a consistent front runner and Thomas has been advancing well towards his full potential.

“So with this change to the team and driver combination, we believe we can mix it with the best within our great category of Supercars."