Investigation underway into Waters fire incident

A loose fuel fitting has been confirmed as the cause behind Cam Waters' Race 13 fire incident in Darwin, following an investigation.

Waters retired from the lead of Race 13 at the betr Darwin Triple Crown when a fire broke out in his Tickford Racing Ford Mustang.

After reporting fire, Waters quickly pulled off at the exit of Turns 1 and 2 before exiting the car and helping to put out the flames.

Per a statement released after the race, the fire was not related to previous fires suffered by James Courtney and Nick Percat at the Beaurepaires Melbourne SuperSprint.

“An investigation into the Car 6 fire incident in Darwin is underway,” a Supercars spokesperson said.

“Most importantly, Cam Waters safely walked away from the incident unharmed.

“Following an initial inspection, led by Supercars, Tickford and Herrod Performance Engines, the fire appears to have been caused by a fuel fitting coming loose and is not related to previous fires experienced in the 2023 Championship.”

Tickford CEO and Team Principal Tim Edwards later confirmed to media that a loose fuel fitting was the cause of the fire.

Waters, who suffered his first DNF since 2021, explained: “The car was feeling really good, and I had a fire in the footwell.

“By the time I got to [Turn] 1, it was all up. I needed to get out as quick as I could.

“It was on fire down the front straight, and when I got to Turn 1, the engine shut off, had a long pedal, and there was fire everywhere.

“The marshals were great to get out with a fire extinguisher.”

Mark Winterbottom inherited the lead as a result of the incident, and helped Team 18 to its maiden Supercars victory.

Tickford Racing is attempting to rebuild the Monster Ford ahead of Sunday qualifying at 9:30am local time/10:00am AEST.