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Waters up for van Gisbergen challenge

26 Oct 2022
Tickford ace standing in way of van Gisbergen title glory
2 mins by James Pavey
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Cam Waters is up for the challenge of tackling Shane van Gisbergen on the Gold Coast with the title on the line.

Only Waters can prevent van Gisbergen winning the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship.

Van Gisbergen can secure the crown as early as Saturday at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

Waters is 567 points behind with 600 left on offer, and needs a van Gisbergen disaster to stand a chance.

Van Gisbergen and Waters have shared the podium 12 times this season.

However, van Gisbergen has 19 wins to Waters’ three.

The 19th victory came three weeks ago in Bathurst, where Waters started on pole.

The two drivers have clashed a number of times in 2022, notably for the win at Winton and Pukekohe.

SVG's bold final-corner pass attempt

Despite a season of near-misses and the occasional victory, Waters is still intent on being the disruptor.

“We wanted to win the championship this year; we’re currently second,” Waters said.

“We wanted to win Bathurst, and we were pretty close there.

“We’ve been competitive this year, we would’ve liked a few more wins.

“But there are some big races coming up that we want to win.

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“Traditionally, the Tickford cars have been strong here, but so’s Triple Eight, so’s Shane.

“It’s gonna be a challenge but I’m up for it; I want to get a few more surfboards.”

SVG and Waters' incredible Pukekohe duel

Waters is 210 points ahead of third-placed Anton De Pasquale, meaning the Tickford ace is odds-on to match his runner-up finish from 2020.

It would mean Waters would help Tickford have the top-ranked Ford driver for the first time since 2016.

Shell V-Power Racing Team drivers were the top-ranked Ford drivers between 2017 and 2021.

Key to Waters’ hopes of taking points off van Gisbergen at Surfers Paradise is repeating his pole efforts from Bathurst three weeks ago.

The Gold Coast race winner has come from the front row 29 times in 39 races.

Waters, who has nine poles to his name this season, knows he needs to nail one-lap pace to keep the pressure on the #97.

“You definitely have to qualify well here; the Shootout lap’s pretty crazy,” he said.

“Usually it’s in the middle of the day when it’s hot and greasy, which makes it harder.

“But it’s a long race as well, so it’s not everything to have to qualify on the front row.

“But it definitely makes the job a lot easier.”

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