THE dream of winning a Repco Bathurst 1000 will have to wait another 12 months for Cam Waters and James Moffat.
Their 2023 campaign came to a dramatic end on lap 71 when Moffat crashed at The Dipper.
Moffat limped the heavily damaged car back to pitlane, but could not make the left-hand turn at the entry.
The stationary Ford caused dramas for those trying to pit under the ensuing Safety Car, scattering left and right to get to the lane.
That was of no consequence to Waters, whose run of three-consecutive Bathurst podium finishes – the last two of which have come with Moffat – comes to an end.
“It’s what we do, it’s what Bathurst is all about,” shrugged Waters.
“It throws everything at you. I’ve had some good experiences here and obviously some bad ones.
“Moff was doing an unbelievable job, he was hanging with Chaz (Mostert), he’s been great this enduro season.
“He’s either slipped on oil and hit the wall or just made a little mistake. He’s pretty dirty with himself.”
Moffat later explained: “I just clipped the inside wall at The Dipper and then that just fired me into the outside wall.
“So, hugely disappointed, but I know I’m not the first person to do something like that and I won’t be the last.
“I’m just disappointed in myself, I pride myself on not making errors like that. Sorry for all of the team, all of the guys. Obviously they’re back at work now trying to put it all back together.
“We were definitely fighting with maybe both hands tied behind our back today. It was tough out there, but that’s no excuse for what I did.”
Waters had been the fastest Ford qualifier in third-place, but was sceptical of his chances in the race against the leading Chevrolet Camaros.
The #6 entry was running mid-pack amid a pitstop cycle at the time of the accident, having served a five-second penalty for an unsafe release at its second stop.
