The key to Tickford's rapid turnaround

Cam Waters fourth, Thomas Randle seventh after Round 7
Waters was seventh, Randle 18th at same point last year
Tickford downscaled from four to two cars for 2024

One year ago, Cam Waters and Thomas Randle were seventh and 18th in the championship, with the lead Tickford Racing crew clinging onto fourth in the teams’ standings.

In the space of 12 months, Tickford has downscaled to two cars, with Waters and Randle — who remained with the team — fourth and seventh, with Tickford second.

It has been a significant turnaround for the Ford team, which has six podiums, two wins and five poles across both cars through seven rounds in 2024.

There was no greater sign of Tickford’s return to form than Waters and Randle locking out the front row for the first Sydney race.

Key to Tickford’s performance, according to Randle, has been the team’s streamlined focus into two cars.

“Everyone knows how competitive this championship is,” Randle told Supercars.com.

“But I think this year, with the changes the team have made, scaling back to two cars, we’re a lot more efficient, and I've just been really trying to work on what I can be doing better in the car as well.

“I've known Cam for a really long time and it's just such a good relationship, it's ever-evolving. There's a lot of banter that goes on, but we just try and keep it really relaxed.

"I think it's been working well, so we're just going to keep working on it.”

Randle had always kept the faith, saying the team deserved more after a rollercoaster first three rounds of the season.

After Waters won in Perth and Townsville, Randle claimed his first podium of the year in Sydney, which was a somewhat overdue result following battles for the podium in Perth and Townsville.

The 2020 Super2 champion rued a qualifying error on Sunday, but still managed to recover to 10th after starting 18th.

"Feeling pretty happy, to get the first podium of the year is great, especially here in Sydney where predominantly I've struggled a fair bit,” said Randle, who is just 47 points behind sixth-placed Will Davison.

“Awesome Saturday, Tickford front row lockout was pretty special. Cam just pipped me which I was a bit annoyed about, but at the same time I was happy it was him.

“Great for the team, I think we could have probably got second on Saturday night, just a little bit of confusion and hesitation in the second stop for Ryan Wood coming down the lane, but still, a podium's always great.

"And then Sunday, I just made a blunder into Turn 4 [in qualifying], driver error cost us a really good starting position. Started way back in 18th, but had awesome speed and got another top 10. Really good points.

“Great team points as well. I think we're up to second in the teams and Cam's fourth in the championship, I'm seventh now.

“Still a long way to go, but sort of trending in the right direction."