Cam Waters led a Ford Mustang parade to win the primary of three Supercars races on the Reid Park road circuit in Townsville, Queensland.
Waters and Dick Johnson Racing’s Brodie Kostecki went into the ultimate tour of the 35-lap race nose-to-tail however Kostecki, who had been on a cost by way of the sphere within the late laps, fell simply in need of the win.
Kostecki began from pole for the fifth time this season however dropped locations at the beginning, with Waters and Matt Payne (Grove Racing) passing him instantly. However Kostecki rapidly reclaimed his velocity and settled into second behind Waters earlier than the pitstop cycle commenced.
Waters got here into the pits on lap 18 however Kostecki stayed out for an additional six laps. The online outcome was that Waters stretched his lead, however it was Payne in second when Kostecki resumed.
The DJR Mustang, in a particular yellow livery for the weekend, closed whereas he discovered a manner round Payne, Waters prevailed by 0.200s. “Brodie received a nasty one [start] however I used to be fairly eager to get to Flip 2 first,” he stated. “I used to be somewhat bit shocked to get P1.
“I simply tried to handle that entire final thing, I knew he was behind me and I used to be simply managing that lap. However I’m glad there was not yet one more lap. It’s good to be on the pointy finish.”
Cameron Waters
Picture by: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Photographs
Kostecki reported that he made the decision to pit after he watched Waters come into the pit lane.
“[It was] a name from me,” he stated. “I assumed [when] Cam had pitted, I didn’t wish to pit behind Cam. We’re wanting fairly good for tomorrow. I assumed I’ve a giant dive down the final nook, however Cam is a reasonably good racer.”
After his eleventh podium of the season, Payne was very blissful, significantly contemplating that not all was proper along with his automotive.
“I picked up a little bit of a vibration early on,” he stated. “It didn’t get any worse and I managed to complete. We want somewhat bit extra [speed]. I used to be actually hoping he [Kostecki] had a lap or two extra [to pressure Waters], it might have been a great battle. Cool technique, it turned out to be actually shut.
“I knew beginning up the entrance we had a great probability of changing it into some good factors.”
Payne’s team-mate Kai Allen took fourth after ceding a place to him after their respective pit stops, whereas Chaz Mostert took fifth.
The Walkinshaw TWG Supra had a minor engine difficulty throughout qualifying, however it was clearly the quickest of the Toyotas and he jumped to second on the opening lap earlier than shedding locations.
Cameron Waters
Picture by: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Photographs
Thomas Randle took sixth for Tickford, an particularly spectacular outcome on condition that he misplaced half of his apply session after a technical downside left him on the sidelines. With a spot within the all-important championship high 10 within the stability, Randle drove a intelligent race and stayed out of hassle for all 35 laps.
If that was a robust drive, so was what got here subsequent. Each Triple Eight drivers had robust Fridays. Broc Feeney certified sixteenth and Will Brown was nineteenth, the primary time in three years wherein the highest 15 grid spots haven’t featured not less than one of many crew’s automobiles.
Brown’s Mustang had a wheel come free late in qualifying and Feeney merely lacked his trademark one-lap velocity. As soon as the race began although, Brown put all that behind him to cost by way of to seventh, reminding everybody why he has been one of many class’s greatest overtakers.
Feeney made it to tenth, at one stage hung extensive on a nook, from the place he watched Brown spear previous two automobiles – together with Feeney’s – without delay.
Feeney carried a 15-point lead coming into the weekend, however the outcomes have handed Payne the collection lead and Grove – which claimed the groups’ factors lead and with it, prime place within the pit lane final day out in Darwin – a lot to struggle for.
Two extra 200km races, one every on Saturday and Sunday, will full Supercars’ mid-winter northern swing.
Supercars Townsville Race 1 outcomes
1
Ford Mustang S650
35
60
2
B. Kostecki Dick Johnson Racing
Ford Mustang S650
35
0.2000
60
3
M. Payne Grove Racing
Ford Mustang S650
35
1.3649
54
4
Okay. Allen Grove Racing
Ford Mustang S650
35
5.6400
47
5
Toyota GR Supra
35
2.0768
43
6
Ford Mustang S650
35
1.3381
40
7
Ford Mustang S650
35
0.7932
36
8
R. Wooden Walkinshaw TWG Racing
Toyota GR Supra
35
2.5123
33
9
J. Ojeda PremiAir Racing
Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6
35
2.1264
31
10
B. Feeney Triple Eight Race Engineering
Ford Mustang S650
35
0.1961
28
11
Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6
35
1.4044
26
12
Ford Mustang S650
35
1.9510
24
13
C. Murray Erebus Motorsport Penrite
Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6
35
2.4696
22
14
Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6
35
3.3268
20
15
Toyota GR Supra
35
4.6587
19
16
Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6
35
2.7828
17
17
R. Grey Dick Johnson Racing
Ford Mustang S650
35
3.6115
16
18
J. Partitions Triple Eight Race Engineering
Ford Mustang S650
35
0.7752
15
19
C. Hill Brad Jones Racing
Toyota GR Supra
35
0.9147
13
20
A. Cameron Blanchard Racing Group
Ford Mustang S650
35
0.2498
12
21
D. Fraser PremiAir Racing
Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6
35
2.6451
11
22
J. Stewart Erebus Motorsport Penrite
Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6
35
2.2354
10
23
Z. Bates Matt Stone Racing
Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6
35
2.1598
9
24
Toyota GR Supra
35
2.3442
8
25
R. Goodall Tickford Racing
Ford Mustang S650
35
8.7593
7
26
Chevrolet Camaro Mk.6
35
18.4377
6
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