Winterbottom outlines mission to end Waters' Bathurst wait
Supercars
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Cam Waters winless in 12 Bathurst 1000 starts
Mark Winterbottom won 2013 Bathurst 1000 on 11th attempt
Winterbottom will race with Waters next season
Mark Winterbottom is "here to win" with Tickford Racing, and is determined to help Cam Waters decade-long snap his Repco Bathurst 1000 hoodoo.
Winterbottom was confirmed at Tickford Racing alongside Waters for the 2025 enduros, which will be held at The Bend Motorsport Park and Mount Panorama next season.
The fairytale reunion marks a return to Ford for Winterbottom, who won the 2013 Bathurst 1000 and 2015 drivers' championship with Tickford, formally Ford Performance Racing and Prodrive Racing Australia.
While Winterbottom has literally climbed the Mountain, also finishing second in 2015, Waters is still waiting for his first victory in Bathurst and the championship.
Waters is now 12 starts without a win at the Great Race, finishing second in 2020 and 2021, and third in 2022.
The now 30-year-old doesn't need to look too far when it comes to big name drivers finally breaking through in Bathurst, with Shane van Gisbergen winning at his 14th attempt in 2020. Van Gisbergen then won two of the next three.
Coincidentally, Waters was runner-up in 2020 by just 0.866s, second behind former teammate Chaz Mostert by 3.739s in 2021, and third behind van Gisbergen in 2022 by 5.937s. After co-driver James Moffat crashed out in 2023, Waters recovered from an early off to finish fourth last month.
Winterbottom needed 11 attempts before winning in 2013, and wants to help Tickford fight for the Peter Brock Trophy when he steps in the Monster Energy Ford Mustang next October.
"Tickford feels like family. So many of the same people are still here, and the fans’ support has been overwhelming — Bathurst really hit home when people kept saying, ‘Go back to Tickford'," he added.
"It’s a privilege to return to such a competitive team with two great opportunities ahead: to win with Cam in the enduros and to help shape the future of this sport. Cam’s one of the best drivers in the field.
“I’ll support him 100 percent — if he wins, we win. That’s what it’s all about. I’m excited to complement his raw speed with my experience and help Tickford fight for the top step of the podium."
Waters said Winterbottom's new deal is "pretty special," adding the veteran's return brings his own career full circle. The duo were full-time teammates between 2016 and 2018.
"Frosty was a key role model for me in the early days of my career and played a significant part in my development," Waters said.
"For things to come full circle now, driving together next year is pretty special. It’s going to be great to have him back in the workshop and around the team, bringing all his knowledge and experience with him.
"He’s going to be a huge asset."
