BATHURST 1000
GIVEN the challenging nature of the Mount Panorama circuit and the amount of championship points on offer for the Bathurst 1000, ever driver in this year’s Great Race will be feeling a certain amount of pressure.
But arguably the two people who will carry the most pressure are Prodrive Racing co-drivers Steve Owen and Cam Waters.
They will be paired with two men who are not only keen to win the Bathurst 1000, but the 2015 V8 Supercars drivers’ championship as well.
Owen will share the Ford Falcon of current championship leader Mark Winterbottom while Waters pairs with Chaz Mostert.
Mostert is the defending Bathurst champion, having won last year with Paul Morris, and is 198 points behind Winterbottom in the battle for the drivers’ title.
But as Mostert chases the 300 points that comes with the Peter Brock Trophy at Mount Panorama, it is clear he has every confidence in Waters.
Waters impressed in helping Mostert to place second in the Sandown 500 and currently leads the Dunlop Series.
“He carved up all the other co-drivers, he was pretty quick. I was down there clapping him on from the fence. It was pretty awesome to watch him do his thing,” Mostert said of Waters at Sandown.
“He’s a very fast young guy. I remember racing him back in Formula Ford and as I was getting out, he was getting in. He was the next one after me to get up and win the championship.
“It is fantastic to be paired with him this year, it’s probably a bit of a shame as I have no doubt at the end of the year he will be stepping up to the main game.”
Waters actually made his Bathurst 1000 debut before Mostert, having competed in 2010 alongside Grant Denyer to become the youngest driver to ever contest the Great Race.
The following year Waters and Jesse Dixon placed 20th in the Bathurst 1000, becoming the youngest pair to complete the 161-lap endurance race.
His worst finish in the Dunlop Series this year has been a third placing, so like Mostert, the 21-year-old is a man in form.
“I think there’s obviously a bit of pressure, but you’ve got to look at the other side of it,” Waters said.
“Chaz is obviously very quick and the car set up is really good and the team is awesome. I just slot in and do my job.”
Owen has a lot of Great Race experience, having made his first appearance as a co-driver for Garry Rogers Motorsport in 1999.
In 2010 Owen helped Jamie Whincup to a second placing in the Bathurst 1000, while last year he and Winterbottom spent time leading the race before finishing sixth.
Just as Mostert has every confidence in Waters, Winterbottom is happy to share his seat with Owen.
“He’s really good, he’s not trying to prove anything, but at the same time he is still trying to win because he’s never won, he’s come really close,” Winterbottom said.
“He’s pretty keen to get his name on that trophy, he’s not only a good driver, but he’s really good out of the car too which is good for me.
“We are in a position where the pressure is on, but he is so relaxed.
“He has got that sort of attitude that keeps you really calm and I enjoy that. He is really good to work with.
“He is very fast and has a lot of experience. I am glad I’ve got him again because he is one of the best.”
