SYDNEY - The 2025 Thrifty Sydney 500 has kicked off the Supercars Championship with excitement and drama, showcasing moments of triumph and controversy on the track over the weekend. The highlight was undoubtedly Cam Waters outpacing Broc Feeney to secure victory by just 0.03 seconds during Race 2.
Waters, racing for Tickford, turned pole position advantage to victory on Saturday night at Sydney Motorsport Park. The intense 200km race saw Waters and Feeney engaged in fierce competition, culminating in a nail-biting finish. Waters nudged Feeney at the final corner, using fresher tires to regain the lead and execute a dramatic drag race across the finish line.
“That was absolutely awesome, I had so much fun,” said Waters, relishing the thrill of the race. The victory was not free of controversy, as Waters tipped Feeney during their tussle for the lead. Thankfully, the stewards opted not to take any action against him.
Waters performed deftly throughout the race, having initially emerged from the final round of pit stops nearly nine seconds behind Feeney. Working his way past Chaz Mostert and Will Brown, he set his sight on Feeney, successfully closing the gap before making his move. Waters explained, “Turn four I sent it in there pretty hard and locked a front… It was probably more my fault than his.” Despite the incident, Waters reflected positively, stating, “That’s okay; it was game on from then on. I had so much fun.”
Race 1 had already set the stage for the weekend's thrill, with Waters dominating after Broc Feeney suffered a puncture. Waters won by nearly 17 seconds, underlining his power behind the wheel of the Ford.
Before the second race, Aaron Love faced repercussions after colliding with teammate James Courtney during Saturday's qualifying session. Love received a four-position grid penalty and fined $2,000, $1,000 of which is suspended until the end of 2025. The stewards deemed Love “predominantly to blame” for the collision, with both drivers providing conflicting reports on the event. Team principal Tim Blanchard labeled the incident as “unacceptable.”
The first round of the season featured outstanding performances and tightly contested races, capturing the attention of fans and impacting standings early on. The incident between Love and Courtney revealed the potential for intra-team rivalry to disrupt race strategies. Following the collision, both cars were forced back to the garage, leaving Love to reflect on mistakes made during the session.
Eager fans witnessed pivotal moments on the track, such as reigning champion Will Brown's last-minute surge to qualify for the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout, squeezing through by just 0.0018 seconds. This event added layers of excitement to the qualifications, as less than half-a-second separated the top drivers.
All races and qualifying sessions were streamed live, promising viewers every twist and turn of racing action without commercial interruptions. Fans could keep track of updated developments online, ensuring they were plugged right back to every pulse-quickening moment.
Looking forward, the series continues with heightened expectations. With one more race scheduled for Sunday afternoon, anticipation looms over who will claim the ultimate glory and if Waters can maintain his winning momentum or if another driver will rise to the occasion.
The competitive edge displayed by top drivers indicates this season may become one of the most memorable yet, as teams look to navigate their ways through the challenges posed by both technical regulations and fierce on-track competition.