Winterbottom longing for racing return
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 11 September 2025
This weekend will be the latest chapter in the esteemed career of Mark Winterbottom, with the “fire in the belly bigger than ever” ahead of his return to Tickford.
Winterbottom forged his way to become one of Ford’s biggest heroes of the 21st century in the #5 Falcon, winning the title in 2015 and Bathurst in 2013.
These were the highlights from a mammoth run from 2006-2018 at Tickford before he switched camps to Team 18.
Now with his full-time journey over and a book on the shelves, the famous Winterbottom is back on a Supercar at this weekend’s AirTouch 500 at The Bend.
He will race the #6 for the first time alongside Cameron Waters in the Monster Mustang.
Having missed the opening rounds for the first time since 2003, “Frosty” is fired up to be back in the main game again.
“It has been a long couple of months waiting to get back behind the wheel, and I have been looking forward to getting back in the car,” Winterbottom said.
“I have been going to the tracks and events, getting my racing fix, but there is nothing like getting back into the car.
“I do not have anything to prove, but I do want to win a race again because it has been a while. The fire in the belly is bigger than ever.
“Working with the Super2 guys has reinvigorated me to find the love and passion again, so I am ready to go and will have a crack.
“I have raced the Chevs for a few years, but I am looking forward to racing a Ford again and driving such an iconic car in the Mustang.”
While it is something of a fairytale, Winterbottom begins his co-driving career with the team he enjoyed the most success with, he and the team would be disappointed to miss out on silverware.
Waters made his 2025 intentions clear by sweeping the Sydney opener, and although he has been up and down since, the Monster Mustang still has the pace to compete with the best when things click.
For Winterbottom, the familiarity of Tickford is a big bonus, and he is hopeful of at least being in the fight alongside former teammate Waters.
“I feel good and it is nice to be with a team I know very well,” he said.
“Teaming up with Cam I know we will be a good chance to so well in the enduros, so I am pumped and ready to go.
“Favourite is a big word, but we will be a chance and on our day we are good enough to get the job done.
“But it will be tough because there are some really good teams and drivers.
“I back Cam all the way, knowing he is very talented, so if I can do my job properly and the team gives us a good car we are a chance.”
Image: Mark Horsburgh
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