Cam Waters has excelled in the first of three Supercars races at the Reid Park street circuit in Townsville, Queensland, leading a pack of Ford Mustangs to victory.
The 35-lap race ended in an exciting finish, with Waters and Dick Johnson Racing driver Brodie Kostecki battling wheel to wheel during the final stretch. Despite Kostecki’s attempt to regain advantage, he ultimately finished in second place, just 0.200 seconds behind.
Kostecki, who had started from pole, lost positions at the start, allowing Waters and Matt Payne from Grove Racing to get past him quickly. However, Kostecki reintegrated into the race and secured second place before the first round of pit stops.
Waters made his stop on lap 18, while Kostecki chose to stay on track for a few more laps. This allowed Waters to extend his lead until Kostecki returned to the track in third position. The DJR Mustang, with a special yellow livery for the event, was about to regain positions, but Waters held his position until the chequered flag.
“I tried to manage the last laps, I knew he was behind me and just wanted to maintain my speed. I’m glad I didn’t have to do another lap, it’s very rewarding to be at the front,” Waters declared after his victory.
Kostecki, for his part, commented that the decision to pit was strategic after seeing Waters enter the pits. “I didn’t want to pit behind him, and I believe we are in a good position for tomorrow,” he assured.
Matt Payne, who secured third position, expressed satisfaction with his performance despite a slight vibration issue with his car. “I was hoping Kostecki would have a lap or two more to pressure Waters, it would have been a great battle,” he stated.
His teammate, Kai Allen, finished fourth after losing a position to Payne during the pit stops, while Chaz Mostert, in the Toyota GR Supra, crossed the line in fifth place, demonstrating good pace in the season’s opening race.
Thomas Randle, from Tickford, ended up in sixth place, highlighting his ability to avoid problems and stay competitive throughout the race. Triple Eight drivers Broc Feeney and Will Brown had a difficult start but managed to recover positions throughout the race, finishing seventh and tenth respectively.
With the results of this race, Matt Payne now leads the championship standings, with two 200 km events ahead in Townsville to complete this first stage of the season.
Results of the first Supercars race in Townsville
| Position | Driver | Vehicle | Laps | Time | Interval | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C. Waters | Ford Mustang S650 | 35 | 44’40.5426 | – | 60 |
| 2 | B. Kostecki | Ford Mustang S650 | 35 | +0.2000 | 44’40.7426 | 60 |
| 3 | M. Payne | Ford Mustang S650 | 35 | +1.5649 | 44’42.1075 | 54 |
| 4 | K. Allen | Ford Mustang S650 | 35 | +7.2049 | 44’47.7475 | 47 |
| 5 | C. Mostert | Toyota GR Supra | 35 | +9.2817 | 44’49.8243 | 43 |
| 6 | T. Randle | Ford Mustang S650 | 35 | +10.6198 | 44’51.1624 | 40 |
| 7 | W. Brown | Ford Mustang S650 | 35 | +11.4130 | 44’51.9556 | 36 |
| 8 | R. Wood | Toyota GR Supra | 35 | +13.9253 | 44’54.4679 | 33 |
| 9 | J. Ojeda | Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6 | 35 | +16.0517 | 44’56.5943 | 31 |
| 10 | B. Feeney | Ford Mustang S650 | 35 | +16.2478 | 44’56.7904 | 28 |
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_6c59bd3ca020cc442e39fdcc3bd1cd17d91b4cf3