Waters identifies key hurdle in Tasmania quest
Supercars
07 Aug
Cam Waters pins Tasmania hopes on tyre temp
Super Soft tyre returns for Symmons Plains round
Tasmania round held in final weeks of winter
Getting tyres up to temperature in Tasmania looms as as a key challenge for drivers and teams at Symmons Plains, says Cam Waters.
The Repco Supercars Championship will resume at next weekend’s NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint, at the southernmost circuit on the calendar.
The Tasmania round has been held towards the start of the season since 2012, but this year, it falls in the final weeks of winter before the enduros.
Cool temperatures are expected, which could serve up plenty of action as drivers fight to get their Super Soft tyres up to speed.
The Super Soft returns for the first time since June’s Darwin round, which despite being held in winter, took place under typically sunny skies in Australia’s north.
“Definitely some challenges from an engineering aspect, trying to get the tyres up for qualifying for one lap,” Waters told media in Tasmania.
“It will be very different to say racing in Darwin and Townsville, but really looking forward to the challenge.
"It's just another challenge that's getting thrown at us that we've got to deal with, which is part of the fun. Whoever deals with it the best will win.
“We're already thinking about the weather and what we need to do differently because of it.”
Waters has more pole positions — five— than any other driver in 2024, and also has three poles at Symmons Plains. However, he is winless in Tasmania, with his team last winning on the Apple Isle in 2012.
Regardless, Waters — who says he has his car in a “happy spot” in recent rounds — is excited to get back to Tasmania, and attempt to break his duck.
“I like racing at Symmons Plains,” he said.
“Obviously it is a shorter lap, but it lends itself to really good racing. You have two long straights into the tightest hairpin on our calendar so it is always entertaining when we are trying to go in there side by side.
“Always fun and lots of passing and qualifying is super tight.”
The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint on August 16-18. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Live coverage can be found on Foxtel, with live streaming available on Kayo. Highlights will be shown on the Seven Network and 7plus. International viewers can follow all the action on Superview.
