![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Just days after becoming a father for the first time, Tickford Racing Supercars driver Waters clocked a Pirelli Pole Battle best 2:01.0790s to secure his first Bathurst 12 Hour pole.<\/p>\n
It was the second-fastest 12 Hour pole time ever, with Waters\u2019 time just 0.19s down on Maro Engel\u2019s 2023 record.<\/p>\n
Waters also became the third driver after co-driver Chaz Mostert and Shane van Gisbergen to do the Bathurst 1000-Bathurst 12 Hour (GT3 era) pole double.<\/p>\n
The Waters\/Mostert\/Thomas Randle #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG will share the front row with the #77 Craft-Bamboo Mercedes-AMG, with 2025 pole winner Lucas Auer second.<\/p>\n
Remarkably, Auer went faster today than he did to claim pole 12 months ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s unbelievable to get pole here, and to win the Allan Simonsen Trophy,\u201d said Waters, who has claimed Bathurst 1000 poles in 2020 and 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cAllan was an amazing bloke, I met him a few times, so to do that is super special.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just can\u2019t thank my team enough, they\u2019ve done an absolutely amazing job, and really through practice they tuned it up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving Baz [Ryan] and Chaz, and putting all our Supercars experience together really tuned the car up, and it\u2019s been a dream to drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t thank Tommy, Chaz, the whole team. Obviously an awesome spot to start tomorrow, and hopefully we can keep it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cam Waters.Source: Supplied Source Known<\/p>\n
In the first Pole Battle with the new Pirelli P Zero DHG tyre, Broc Feeney (#64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang) clocked a 2:08.6926s as the field fought for tyre temperature. On his second lap, Feeney recorded a 2:02.4151s, with WRT BMW\u2019s Raffaele Marciello 1.1s down.<\/p>\n
The times quickly tumbled, and it was Marco Mapelli with the first 2:01s lap of the session. The #93 Wall Racing Lamborghini logged a 2:01.9912s to send a statement to the field.<\/p>\n
Waters, meanwhile, laid down a 2:01.9221s to march ahead, with surprise packet Scott Andrews slotting in just behind.<\/p>\n
On the quest for consecutive Simonsen Trophies, Auer put down a 2:01.5478s. Christopher Haase, Matt Campbell and Marciello also closed in, before Luca Stolz flew to a 2:01.4042s.<\/p>\n
Into the final two minutes, Waters edged ever closer to a 2:00s, hitting the top of the time sheets with a 2:01.0790s. Auer also improved by was still 0.17s away from the #222 STM Mercedes-AMG.<\/p>\n
Stolz got across the line for a final crack at it. The two-time winner went fastest in the first sector, and remained within reach across the top of the Mountain. However, he ended up just third, with Mercedes-AMG locking out the top three spots.<\/p>\n
Campbell put the #911 Absolute Racing Porsche in fourth, with Haase (#55 Jamec Racing\/Team MPC Audi), Mapelli, Marciello (#46 WRT BMW), Andrews (#44 Geyer Valmont Racing\/Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG), Feeney and Jayden Ojeda (#6 Mercedes-AMG Team Tigani Motorsport) rounding out the top 10.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour will commence on Sunday at 5:45am local time.<\/p>\n