TICKFORD Racing has publicly declared it was not responsible for the fire which engulfed Cam Waters’ Monster Energy Mustang in Darwin.
Waters was leading Race 1 at Hidden Valley on Saturday when his car burst into flames as it crossed the start/finish line to begin Lap 5.
Many in the paddock immediately feared it to be a repeat of the Albert Park fires which triggered emergency meetings, before the category quickly doused concerns by announcing a loose fuel fitting was to blame.
That’s a theory which Tickford CEO Tim Edwards supported post-race.
However, the team is understood to have been aggrieved by suggestions the fitting coming loose, which caused a fuel leak, was down to negligence on its crew’s part.
There were rumours, albeit unconfirmed, that checks of all Ford engines found the same part had started to come loose on other cars.
“We would like to thank every single one of you who reached out with messages of support for Cam and the entire team following the fire and rebuild of the Monster Energy Mustang in Darwin,” read Tickford’s statement.
“It’s something no team wants to experience but to have it happen twice was heartbreaking.
“The team has investigated and determined the cause to be a component the team is not responsible for.
“Eyes forward now to Townsville and hopefully some better luck awaits.”
Edwards has called on Supercars and Ford supplier Herrod Performance Engines to redesign the layout before the Townsville 500 on July 7-9.
Tickford did at least receive plenty of praise for its monumental effort to rebuild Waters’ car in time for Sunday’s action, a mission which only finished at 3:30am local time.
