Tickford and Cameron Waters are on a high after their first pole of 2023, but it almost did not happen.
Despite the Monster Mustang clearly being the fastest car across one lap at Hidden Valley Raceway, it was on the verge of being knocked out in the first of three phases of qualifying.
In a bid to save a set of tyres for the back end of the session, Waters elected to remain in the pits as the times tumbled at the end of Q1.
It created a nervous wait for all inside the Tickford garage as car #6 dropped closer and closer to the knockout zone.
As the chequered flag fell Waters sat 20th, just one spot and 0.011s away from being knocked out.
But Waters survived the close call and made the most of his extra fresh rubber to be the only driver to lap in the 1:05s to soar to his maiden pole of the Gen3 era, his second in Darwin and Ford’s seventh straight in Darwin.
“It has been hooked up over one lap this weekend,” Waters said.
“Q1 I was a bit nervous because we only ran one set trying to save a set to run two at the end and it paid off, so we cannot be happier.
“We just need to convert this into a win.”
Cameron Waters showed untouchable pace to snatch pole in Darwin. Image: Mark Horsbrugh
Waters’ untouchable pace was a far cry from qualifying at the last event in Tasmania where the Monster Mustang was a magnet to the Dick Johnson Racing Fords, which kept tripping over themselves.
In the month between rounds Tickford had hoped to stage a test day at Winton Motor Raceway, but poor weather ensured no laps were possible.
Waters was worried being robbed of the chance to gain a greater understanding of his car would have made things difficult, but admitted “keeping things simple” and some engine mapping tweaks have found some extra speed.
“The car is pacey and felt much nicer today than yesterday. It has been up and down a little bit but we have a nice window it is working in,” he said.
“We have not changed the car a lot since Tassie and just been tweaking it and understanding the package.
“We did not get a test day which we thought may have hurt us, but we just kept it simple.
“A couple of the engine things are helping us out with the drivability so we are getting closer every time we get on track.”
Looking ahead to the race, Waters is fearful of the impact tyre degradation will have across the 35-lap one-stop encounter.
Last year differing tyre strategies created some thrilling finishes and expect more of the same this weekend with drivers experiencing a big drop off extremely early in the stint.
“We didn’t (do a long run in practice). Everyone is a little bit concerned up and down pit lane because the deg is pretty high,” he said.
“On lap 1, 2 and 3 you are bleeding a lot of time so it is going to be interesting.
“It will open up strategy a bit so hopefully we can get it right.”
Darwin Triple Crown Race 13 grid
1 Cam Waters 1:05.9027 2 Broc Feeney 1:06.0085
3 Mark Winterbottom 1:06.1283 4 Shane van Gisbergen 1:06.1934
5 Will Davison 1:06.2747 6 Bryce Fullwood 1:06.4682
7 James Golding 1:06.5066 8 Tim Slade 1:06.6637
9 Scott Pye 1:06.7304 10 Thomas Randle 1:06.7410
11 Brodie Kostecki 1:06.29 12 Anton De Pasquale 1:06.3038
13 Jack Le Brocq 1:06.3038 14 Matt Payne 1:06.3519
15 Andre Heimgartner 1:06.3860 16 Cameron Hill 1:06.4383
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