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Cam Waters says he feels like he’s done “half the job” after securing pole for the Bathurst 1000 with the top ten shootout cancelled due to unsafe track conditions.
Waters will start from the front in the Great Race with torrential rain at Mount Panorama cancelling the shootout for the first time since it was introduced in 1978.
Motorsport Australia officials spent over an hour deliberating whether to let the top 10 drivers from Friday’s first qualifying session take to the track to decide their starting order for Sunday’s race.
But it was deemed unsafe after the final Super2 and Toyota 86 series races were also canned, with rivers of water running on the track at times.
“I feel like I’ve done half the job … but respect the decision they’ve made,” Waters said.
“If we end up in the fence, tear the car up and then not be able to race it tomorrow, that’s probably the bigger issue for me.”
Supercars CEO Shane Howard said the amount of water that flooded the track was unsafe for driving, with all teams in agreement.
“Obviously disappointed that that’s occurred but at the end of the day, you can’t compromise safety and we’ll have 28 cars on the grid for tomorrow,” he said.
Cameron Waters during practice for the Bathurst 1000. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
The full starting grid was instead decided on the results from Friday’s first qualifying.
It means Tickford Racing’s Waters will start from pole for a second time, having also secured the spot in 2020.
Waters will be flanked on the front row by 2021 champion co-driver Lee Holdsworth, who is participating in his final race around the mountain.
The 39-year-old, who announced he will retire at the completion of this year, was devastated not to have one final solo crack in the shootout.
“It’s a little bit of an empty feeling for me,” Holdsworth said.
“I really wanted to have a crack at my last top 10 shootout and didn’t get to do it.
“It wouldn’t have been that entertaining for people to watch anyway, still a little empty but happy to be starting off the front row.”
Holdsworth’s winning partner Chaz Mostert lines up third, with Supercars championship leader Shane van Gisbergen dropping from fourth to seventh after a three-grid-spot penalty was applied to his car at the end of the first qualifying session.
Erebus Motorsports’ three entries are all in the top 10 with Richie Stanaway fourth, Brodie Kostecki ninth and Will Brown 10th.
LEADING BATHURST 1000 QUALIFYING RESULTS:
1. Cameron Waters – 2:23.616
2. Lee Holdsworth
3. Chaz Mostert
4. Richie Stanaway
5. Will Davison
6. Nick Percat
7. Shane van Gisbergen
8. James Courtney
9. Brodie Kostecki
10. Will Brown.
© AAP
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