Waters offers theory over Bathurst carnage

Cam Waters believes drivers are being caught out with changeable grip conditions on the Hard compound tyre, amid a spate of incidents at the Repco Bathurst 1000.

Several drivers have been caught out pushing hard already before race day, with Scott Pye wiping out in Thursday co-driver practice, both Matt Stone Racing cars on Friday, and dual major incidents in qualifying.

David Reynolds and Will Davison both suffered big accidents during Friday afternoon’s session, with Team 18 and Dick Johnson Racing burning the midnight oil to repair their respective cars.

This year’s event is being held on Dunlop’s Hard tyre, which was also used at the season-opening Thrifty Bathurst 500. Last year's Great Race, meanwhile, was held on the Soft tyre.

The Soft tyre offered more grip and faster lap times, but ultimately led to a dour race as drivers managed tyre degradation and offline rubber debris.

As forecast before the weekend, right from Thursday practice, drivers have been on the edge and, unfortunately for some, over it.

When asked if he feels the intensity is higher than before, Waters replied: “Definitely. Everyone’s trying so much harder, I think.

“Even Practice 1, it was bloody crazy how fast everyone was going straight out the box.

"I'm just lucky I’m not one of the ones crashing at the moment. It’s definitely challenging out there."

Waters himself was nearly another casualty, avoiding a big shunt through The Esses. Waters got away with it, but joked over radio that his team shouldn’t watch the replays on TV.

“It was a pretty intense session,” said Waters, who qualified second behind provisional pole-sitter Matt Payne.

“Did a really good banker, then we were just trying some stuff with the car, and had a little moment going into Forrest’s Elbow. I didn’t get down the gear, and then I locked the rears. It probably looked worse than what it was.”

Waters — who powered to pole in the 2020 Shootout, and added a second pole amid wet weather-affected circumstances in 2022 — believes he has what it takes to take home the $15,000 on Saturday.

However, he insisted there is still work to be done on his Monster Energy Ford’s race package: "I think we’ve got a car to get a pole here.

“There’s probably three or four cars that can do it. Tomorrow we’ve got a bit of plan, still got to work on race car, it’s not all about qualifying. We’ll try and juggle that tomorrow, but we’re in good shape."

Supercars will return to the track on Saturday morning, with co-driver only Practice 5 at 10:05am AEDT. Tickets for the Repco Bathurst 1000 are on sale now.