CAM Waters’ Tickford Racing team have put all four cars to the test this week after mechanical and electrical issues caused havoc for the Mildura Supercars driver in Townsville.
The 28-year-old’s Monster Energy Ford developed a number of issues for Sunday’s race after he scored pole position and led the 88-lapper early on.
He would drop to 15th by race end, marking his lowest finish since the season opener in Perth in April when he came 22nd after being spun out.
On Saturday he moved into an early lead after a dramatic start and came home fifth, Townsville’s results leaving him seventh in the championship standings.
“He had multiple mechanical issues,” Tickford Racing CEO and team principal Tim Edwards said after the race.
“Wheel bearing issues, engine misfire, power steering rack issue.
“He pretty much got every one of the ‘issue boxes’ ticked in that race.
“He battled on to bring the thing home but he was in a world of pain.”
Edwards also reiterated that Waters — who was on a three-stop strategy — was also left vulnerable due to the late appearance of the safety car.
“Pottsy [engineer Sam Potter] said on the radio, ‘I know it’s going to be tough, mate, but just hang in there’,” Edwards said.
“He did that.
“It’s just frustrating.
“We’ve got better car speed than that.
“That safety car caught us out a bit.
“We weren’t in the fortunate position that Anton could throw tyres at it.
“It hurt us because we planned a three-stop, and we’d already used the tyres; we left the front tyres on that had effectively done two stints.
“By the time we put front tyres on it, he was in a world of pain there, then he had the electrical, mechanical, engine issues going on.”
The Supercars Championship will resume at the Sydney SuperNight on July 28-30.
