Cameron Waters Struggles in Darwin Qualifying, Fails to Secure Shootout Berth
Cameron Waters faced a challenging qualifying session for Race 12 in Darwin, finishing a disappointing 19th and missing out on a spot in the Top 10 Shootout. The Ford driver, known for his competitive edge, was unable to find the pace needed to contend with the front runners in a highly competitive Boost Mobile Qualifying on Saturday.
Waters’ struggles were evident from the outset. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t match the times set by his rivals, ending the session with a time significantly off the pace of provisional pole-sitter Will Brown, who clocked an impressive 1:05.7066s. Brown’s former teammate, Brodie Kostecki, followed closely behind, 0.1905 seconds slower.
The session saw Tim Slade secure an impressive third place, with Will Davison and Triple Eight wildcard rookie Cooper Murray rounding out the top five. Meanwhile, other notable drivers like Saturday’s race winner Broc Feeney managed to secure eighth place.
Waters, alongside fellow Ford driver Chaz Mostert, who also struggled and finished 20th, faced a frustrating 15-minute qualifying session. The duo was unable to improve their times in the final runs, leaving them mired at the lower end of the grid for Sunday’s race finale.
Reflecting on the session, Waters expressed his disappointment: “It’s obviously not where we wanted to be. We tried everything we could, but the pace just wasn’t there today. We’ll have to work hard to find some improvements for the race.”
The qualifying session was dynamic and fast-paced. De Pasquale initially led with a 1:06.1718s before being overtaken by Brown, who ended the first runs with a 1:06.1519s. Kostecki then briefly held the top spot with a 1:05.8971s during the second runs, but Brown ultimately secured provisional pole with his fastest lap.
As the final runs began, Feeney, Mostert, and Waters all found themselves outside the top ten. Brown’s final lap ensured he stayed ahead, with Slade and Golding making late surges to secure third and sixth places, respectively.
The contrasting fortunes of Waters and his competitors set the stage for an intriguing race day. With Waters starting from 19th, he will face an uphill battle to move through the field and challenge the leaders.
**Qualifying Results for Race 12 in Darwin:**
1. Will Brown – 1:05.7066s
2. Brodie Kostecki – 1:05.8971s
3. Tim Slade
4. Will Davison
5. Cooper Murray
6. James Golding
7. Jack Le Brocq
8. Broc Feeney
9. Cameron Hill
10. Anton De Pasquale
19. Cameron Waters
20. Chaz Mostert
Waters will need to rely on his racecraft and experience to navigate through the pack and salvage a strong result in Sunday’s finale. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if he can turn his fortunes around and make a significant impact on race day.
