Waters blitzes course to upstage big names

CAMERON Waters crashed the party by edging out the five championship contenders in yesterday’s practice for the ITM SuperSprint in New Zealand.

The Prodrive Racing Australia up-and-comer upstaged title leader Jamie Whincup to set the pace at Pukekohe.

Waters (1.02.56) hit back after DJR/Team Penske contender Scott McLaughlin showed his title intent by claiming the quickest time in first session to open the penultimate race round of the season.

“We weren’t too fazed after practice one,” Waters said.

“We knew we had some problems but we fixed them up and it is fine now. The car is really quick now so I am really happy. This puts us in a good place for [today].”

Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver Whincup struck in the final minute of practice session to be the quickest of the contenders with a time of 1.02.70.

Whincup stormed home to edge in front of McLaughlin (fourth), Chaz Mostert (fifth), Shane van Gisbergen (sixth) and Fabian Coulthard (14th) to lead Holden’s New Zealand fight.

Whincup is fighting for an unprecedented seventh title after stealing the championship lead from Coulthard at the Gold Coast 600 last month.

Only 196 points separate Whincup from fifth-place contender van Gisbergen (Red Bull Holden Racing Team) in the sport’s tightest ever finish.

“The No.88 car is pretty good,” Whincup said.

“There is a bit of a Ford whitewash at the top so it is good to represent the Lion.

“The car is good. We are just tuning it a bit here and there. They are a couple of sec- tions that have been resurfaced and that has changed the dynamic of the circuit.”

Mark Winterbottom followed PRA teammate Waters to finish in third despite being held up by van Gisbergen in an infraction that saw the Red Bull driver apologise.

“He just got in my way,” Winterbottom said.

“He backed me up and three and it cost me a couple of tenths. But to be P3 on the third lap was pretty good.”