Waters pips Feeney in epic Sydney showdown

Cameron Waters stole victory from Broc Feeney in the final metres of an epic Saturday night Sydney showdown that produced one of the closest finishes in Supercars history.

It all came down to the final blast to the chequered flag with Waters using the side draft expertly to snatch it from Feeney by the breathtaking final margin of 0.0308s, while third placed Will Brown was also within two tenths.

Despite leading from pole, Waters found himself down in fourth at the start of the final stint, but used his four lap fresher tyres to claw back to the bumper of leader Feeney.

Across the final five laps it was game on as a clash between Waters and Feeney at Turn 6 brought Will Brown into play.

Suddenly the top three were banging doors across the final laps until it all came down to the final corner.

Feeney led Waters, who gave the #88 a little tap on corner exit, but the #6 also received the same treatment from the sister Triple Eight Camaro.

Then it was a drag race with the Green-Eyed Monster having enough legs to eat up Feeney at the last possible moment in front of a standing ovation from the grandstand.

Just 0.0308s was the difference, the closest ever in ATCC history, beating 0.1434s of Bathurst 2016.

“That was absolutely awesome and so much fun,” Waters said.

“There were a few tactics, but gave it everything and it was an epic finish.”

“It was pretty hard racing there. Got turned with five or six laps to go and I was struggled there at the end. Got the rear bar at the last corner, but he was able to slipstream past me,” Feeney said.

“We are able to race a bit harder this year by the looks of it. Gutted to lose it at the end.”

Cam Waters beats Broc Feeney in an all-time drag race. Image: Peter Norton

It was an even start between Waters and Feeney with the arm wrestle for the lead not decided until the exit of Turn 3 where Payne also tried to join them.

The fight for fourth was also willing as Brown made a committed move down the inside on Mostert as his WAU teammate went nowhere, stalling it off the line, which made life worse for David Reynolds, who started from the lane due to a fuel leak.

Whilst Friday night’s opener was clean, under the Saturday night lights it was anything but.

A Jaxon Evans slide sparked a chain reaction that resulted in James Golding being spun at Turn 2 with possible assistance from Nick Percat as he received a 15s penalty.

Things had not settled by the time the back of the field arrived at Corporate Hill either with Kai Allen spinning Aaron Love into the Turn 7 gravel.

Despite the clashes, the racing remained green as Waters and Feeney skipped away from the rest of the field.

However, they only got seven laps in before a Richie Stanaway fire did bring the Safety Car into action.

Out of nowhere a flame sparked underneath the #62 Camaro, which came to a stop on the approach to Turn 3.

The entire field aside from Fullwood took the chance to stop and test out the returning fuel churns, which caused some difficulty for the Erebus crew servicing Le Brocq.

But more critically Waters lost the lead to Feeney ironically due to the sister Triple Eight Camaro double stacking.

The brief moment Waters had to wait proved just enough time for Feeney to snare the lead.

There was more action further back as a radio-less Wood rejoined straight into the path of Courtney and two two Mustangs made heavy wheel to wheel contact.

The WAU driver suffered a pit lane penalty for his actions, while Fullwood received the same sanction for ignoring the red light on pit exit.

Racing resumed on Lap 12 and despite having a determined Waters behind him, was able to pull more than a second within three laps.

Two contenders that were battling were Brown and Mostert, who passed each other between Turns 3 and 4, but the order remained the same.

Hill had his elbows out defending 10th and nudged Davison out of the way at Turn 2, which was just the start of the #17’s troubles.

Waters and Feeney battled from start to finish. Image: Peter Norton

Cooper Murray made a big lunge on Courtney at Turn 6 and made that stick, but then tried to carry on and have a look at Davison.

But it was always going to be one car too far as Murray locked up and whacked the #17 around.

Eventually things finally settled down and again Feeney and Waters skipped clear.

The leaders set a relentless pace, running in unison as they bolted 4s clear of Payne.

The only other car offering similar pace was Brown, who had not only dropped Mostert, but eased his way past Payne for third.

Although Feeney remained in the lead, this time Waters did not allow him to pull more tham half a second clear.

As the race flew past midway the Tickford driver appeared to have the edge in pace, but not quite enough to make a challenge.

Meanwhile, old habits die hard for Kostecki, who accidentally almost stopped at Erebus bay before pulling out at the last minute. 

With nothing between them it all came down to the second and final visits to the lane.

Triple Eight blinked first, bringing Feeney into the lane on Lap 31.

The #88 was serviced for 4.7s for fuel and four tyres, but rejoined right behind Allen.

However, Tickford went the opposite and kept Waters out in clean air for a further four laps.

Despite getting fresher rubber, the move proved costly as not only the #6 lost 9s to Feeney, but it allowed both Brown and Mostert to sail past when he rejoined at Turn 2.

If Waters was going to go back to back, he would need to do something special.

Determined to regain ground, Waters had the lights on and put the foot down.

He needed just one lap to snatch back third from Mostert with a calculated move at the final corner.

The Green-Eyed Monster then set the fastest lap on Lap 38 in pursuit of Brown and the reigning champion did not have much up his sleeve, being picked off with ease at Turn 6.

The next driver in Waters’ sights was now leader Feeney, who was 6s up the road.

However, that margin was closing fast with the #6 catching the #88 at almost a second per lap and he needed just six laps to slash the deficit to less than 2s.

Deeper into the stint Feeney lessoned the time loss as Waters brought the margin under a second for the first time with seven to go.

The stage was set for a thrilling final five laps as Waters was all over the back of Feeney.

Things exploded on Lap 48 when Waters took a big lunge at Turn 4, but could not quite get up far enough.

Broc Feeney leads Cam Waters during the closing stages. image: Peter Norton

Contact was made, seeing Feeney spear off from the lead into the outfield.

Waters tried to redressed, but the move brought Brown into play and suddenly the top three were running nose to tail and side by side.

Once they bumped their way around Corporate Hill Feeney found himself in the lead, but only just.

Critically and notably the stewards let the move go unpunished, which made it a free for all and the fans loved it.

Round two arrived on the penultimate lap when Waters had another look, but again the #88 retained track position.

Just 0.8s separated them at the start of the final lap and Feeney appeared to have Waters set as he covered smartly at the hairpin.

The Triple Eight driver deployed the same tactic at the final corner, but this time Waters gave him a rub at the apex, while Brown did the same on corner ext.

Although Feeney had the lead, he could not stop Waters from stealing it in an unforgettable finish as just 0.1996s covered the top three.

Behind Mostert and Payne completed the top five with Randle, De Pasquale, Heimgartner, Golding and Evans getting themselves in the top 10.

Courtney ended a tough day for BRT on a high in 11th, while Stanaway was the only non finisher.

Everyone now has to catch their breathe before another 200km race at 16.05 AEDT.

Images: Peter Norton Epic Sports Photography

Supercars Round 1 Sydney 500 Race 2 results

2025 Sydney 500

Practice 1: A. De Pasquale 1:30.0226 2: D. Reynolds +0.4742 3: J. Courtney +0.5039

Qualifying 1: C. Waters 1:28.6968 2: B. Feeney +0.2544 3: M. Payne +0.4559

Race 1: C. Waters 2: C. Mostert 3: T. Randle

Qualifying: 1 C. Waters 1:28.8998 2: B. Feeney +0.2187 3: M. Payne +0.4045

READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.