In a thrilling display of speed and skill, Supercars driver Cam Waters has achieved an incredible feat, just days after becoming a father for the first time. Waters, a rising star in the Supercars world, secured the pole position at the Bathurst 12 Hour, becoming the first Australian to win the prestigious Allan Simonsen Pole Trophy in four years. This achievement is all the more remarkable considering the recent addition to his family.
The Pole Battle was a fierce contest, with Waters clocking an impressive 2:01.0790s, just 0.19s shy of the record set by Maro Engel in 2023. This time secured him the second-fastest 12 Hour pole time ever, and he also became the third driver to achieve the Bathurst 1000-Bathurst 12 Hour (GT3 era) pole double, following in the footsteps of co-driver Chaz Mostert and Shane van Gisbergen.
Waters' #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG will share the front row with the #77 Craft-Bamboo Mercedes-AMG, with 2025 pole winner Lucas Auer in second place. Auer's time was even faster than his pole-winning time from 12 months ago, showcasing the incredible pace of the field.
"It’s unbelievable to get pole here, and to win the Allan Simonsen Trophy,” Waters exclaimed, his pride evident. "Allan was an amazing bloke, I met him a few times, so to do that is super special. I just can’t thank my team enough; they’ve done an absolutely amazing job, and really through practice, they tuned it up."
The race was not without its surprises, with Broc Feeney (#64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang) initially leading the field with a 2:08.6926s time, but Waters soon took the lead with a 2:01.9221s lap. The battle for the top spots was intense, with several drivers pushing the limits and challenging for pole position.
In the end, Waters' remarkable performance secured him the top spot, and he will start the race on Sunday at 5:45 am local time, aiming to make history and defend his title. The 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour promises to be an exciting event, with Waters' achievement already setting the bar high for the rest of the field.
