After 52 laps and 200km, Cam Waters needed just 0.03s.
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In one of the greatest Supercars races of all time, Waters and Broc Feeney survived a late-race clash to be split by nothing in a drag race to the line in Race 2 at the Sydney 500 – Opening Round.
After being left to pass Brown and Chaz Mostert following the second stops, Waters ate away a seven-second deficit to range up behind Feeney. On lap 49, the duo collided, leading to a redress attempt by Waters.
Brown caught the leaders, setting up a dramatic end to the race that saw Waters get down the inside at the final corner, out-dragging Feeney to the finish line.
“Unbelievable finish to that motor race,” Neil Crompton said in commentary.
“I am blown away by what I have just seen. Oh my goodness me… I would not have thought that was possible at the last corner, absolutely no way.
“Will Brown gave him a bump, pushed him wide and then to come up there so straight, man that is a remarkable finish. That was just absolutely incredible.”
“That’s taken our breath away,” added Mark Skaife.
Waters, who opened up a 37-point lead over Mostert with Brown 40 points behind, described it as an “absolutely awesome” finish.
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“Obviously we lost the track position with that first pit stop, but we fought hard, we never gave up,” he added.
“I had a crack on Broc, but I gave it back to him, there were a few tactics getting played, but I gave it my all, and that was an epic finish wasn’t it?”
At the start, Waters and Feeney went side-by-side through Turn 1, with the pole-sitter prevailing after an over-under attempt from Feeney. Behind them, Ryan Wood stalled and dropped down the order, while James Golding was sent into a spin at Turn 2.
Replays showed Nick Percat getting into Jaxon Evans, who tipped Golding into a spin. Officials hit Percat with a 15-second penalty over the clash, which was served in the second round of stops.
The action continued around the first lap, with Aaron Love sent into a spin by Kai Allen at Turn 7. Allen suffered a flat front right tyre, but despite staying on the lead lap, was penalised over the clash.
Waters and Feeney began to pull away from Matt Payne, with Brown behind after making a move on Mostert. However, the race was neutralised as Richie Stanaway’s PremiAir Chevrolet expired, triggering a flurry of action in pit lane.
All drivers except Bryce Fullwood stopped; as Brown double-stacked behind Feeney, Waters baulked and lost the lead to Feeney. Behind them, Ryan Wood collided with James Courtney, and was hit with a 15-second penalty. Fullwood stopped one lap later and rejoined 10th, only for a drive-through penalty over a red light breach to drop him down the order.
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Feeney led the field to green on lap 13, and the action kicked off down the pack as a racy Cameron Hill hit Will Davison at Turn 2. A concertina saw Cooper Murray send Davison into a spin at Turn 6, attracting a penalty for the Erebus Motorsport rookie.
David Reynolds was also placed under investigation for a Safety Car breach, and later hit with a 15-second penalty over a yellow flag breach.
On lap 23, as Brown cleared Payne for third, Waters began to reel Feeney in. Try as he might, Waters was unable to pressure Feeney into a mistake as the second stops loomed.
Anton De Pasquale, Golding, Cameron Crick and Murray kicked off the second round of stops at the end of lap 29, with Hill, Evans and Courtney stopping on the following lap.
Waters put Feeney under pressure, with Triple Eight calling Feeney in as they rounded the final corner. Despite a late call to stay out, Feeney dived into the lane, with Mostert, Andre Heimgartner, Brodie Kostecki, Jack Le Brocq and Love also stopping.
Tickford continued to keep Waters out as Thomas Randle, Macauley Jones, Percat, Davison and Fullwood stopped. Brown was brought in on lap 33, with the reigning champion resuming eight seconds behind Feeney.
Tickford pulled the pin and brought Waters in on lap 34. Waters rejoined line astern with Brown and Mostert, but dropped behind both. Feeney, meanwhile, was eight seconds clear.
On lap 37, Waters powered past Mostert into the final corner. Waters caught and cleared Brown, leaving the points leader 14 laps to eat away a seven-second margin. With eight laps remaining, Waters had already slashed the deficit to 2.2s.
The gap closed to within a second with six laps to go, as the Monster Mustang continued to eat chunks out of the Red Bull Camaro’s lead. On lap 48, Waters had a look into the Turn 8 hairpin, but Feeney held firm. On lap 49, the race turned on its head.
Waters sent it down the inside at Turn 4, and Feeney was send into a spin. Waters attempted to redress the incident, only to bring Brown into play. Waters hung Brown out to dry through Turns 6 and 7, and as Feeney got through, Waters survived a wild slide.
After an investigation, officials let it play out, and Waters left himself one lap to get Feeney. After contact at the final corner, Waters ranged alongside Feeney and stole victory by just 0.03s, with Brown 0.1996s from victory.
Supercars will return to the track on Sunday at 11:00am AEDT for Qualifying, followed by the Top Ten Shootout at 1:05pm. The 200km Race 3 will commence at 4:05pm.
This article first appeared on supercars.comand was reproduced with permission.
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