Waters Eyes 2026 Title After Sandown Setback

Cameron Waters’ 2025 title hope effectively ended when he clashed with Matthew Payne at Sandown, but the Tickford Racing driver remains well placed to mount another challenge in 2026.  

Waters finished sixth in the driver's standings and helped secure Tickford a fourth-place finish in the team’s championship. 

His teammate Thomas Randle also delivered a strong season, finishing seventh overall for the Victorian-based team.  

The Supercars’ landscape shifts significantly next year, with Triple Eight becoming Ford’s homologation team for 2026.  

The move marks a new era for the Mustang, and reshapes Tickford’s competitive package heading into the new season.  

As one of Ford’s most consistent drivers, Waters remains central to both the manufacturer’s and his team’s ambitions.        

Waters began his career in his hometown of Mildura, a major regional hub of Victoria, highlighting the challenges faced by athletes pursuing the elite pathway outside of metropolitan areas.  

“It definitely has challenges (living regionally),” said Waters. 

“For us, we obviously had the local go-kart track, but if we wanted to go racing, the next one was probably three hours away. 

“Getting to Adelaide was four hours away, Melbourne was six. 

“It was difficult, the extra cost of having to travel all the time. 

“It's not just difficult for us (race drivers), it's for athletes in any regional town to get to the top of their profession.”

Waters showed his car had pace at the Supercars grand final in Adelaide, qualifying third on Friday in a bittersweet moment after Sandown.    

“That's motor racing, though, isn't it,” Waters said of the car having pace in Adelaide, but not at Sandown. 

“You’ve got to rock up to every round and be fast.”

With Ford entering a new phase and Waters firmly among the category’s elite, the Mildura product looms as a serious challenger to Chaz Mostert’s reign.