WINTERBOTTOM BREAKS TEAM 18 DROUGHT AT HIDDEN VALLEY

’13’ is a number that conjures up a wide range of feelings. For some it is just another number, whilst others align it with a form of spiritual darkness where mischief and misfortunes abounds.

There are buildings that don’t have a thirteenth floor, while Friday 13th has become the feast of horror buffs. The origins of the myth are murky at best, with links to the apocalypse in Mayan culture, the arrival of Loki in Nordic mythology and the presence of Judas Iscariot at the Last Supper.

For Cameron Waters, Race 13 in the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship at Hidden Valley presented its own horror story, which reverberated throughout the pit lane.

SEETHE FULL CAM WATERS GALLERY HERE

The day had begun well for the Monster Energy Mustang driver, scoring pole position for Race 13. Things also looked good for Team 18 driver Mark Winterbottom, who grabbed P3 in the DeWalt sponsored Camaro. Red Bull Ampol Racing Camaros sat line astern with Broc Feeney in second and Shane van Gisbergen fourth. Championship leader Brodie Kostecki had a less successful run in qualifying but managed to squeak into a top 10 that included 3 Ford Mustangs.

As the lights went out it was Waters who led into Turn 1 with Winterbottom glued to the rear bumper of the Monster Energy Mustang. Waters moved to the right of the track to block Feeney, while van Gisbergen switched back to the inside line immediately behind Winterbottom.

Winterbottom and Feeney ran side-by-side through Turn 1 with the Red Bull Racing Ampol Camaro  running out of bitumen at the exit of the corner. That lack of grip sealed the deal for Winterbottom to claim second.

SEE THE FULL SUPERCARS GALLERY HERE

At the end of the opening lap it was Waters from Winterbottom, Feeney, van Gisbergen, Davison, Slade, Fullwood, Golding, Pye and Kostecki. Fraser was an early visitor to the pitlane on lap 2, while Reynolds locked up with a puncture at Turn 1 and James Courtney was tipped into a spin at the final corner.

The complexion of the race changed dramatically at the start of lap 5 with Waters telling his team “Car’s on fire.” Waters pulled off the track at the exit of Turn 1 with a fireball erupting on the left front quarter of his car that quickly extended to the front grille and bonnet.

Waters was quick to escape the burning car and sought out a fire extinguisher to aid the Supercar Recovery officer in putting out the blaze. The cause of the fire was soon identified as a loose fuel line and the remaining fleet of Ford Mustangs were checked for potential issues.

Needless to say, the Safety Car was immediately on track to cover the incident.

It triggered a hive of activity along the pitlane as drivers arrived to complete their compulsory stops.

Mark WInterbottom emerged with the race lead from Feeney, Davison, Fullwood, Kostecki, van Gisbergen, Slade, Pye, De Pasquale and Payne at the restart on lap 10.

Declan Fraser spun off on lap 12, which ignited a grass fire and brought out a second Safety Car four laps later.

Winterbottom once again extended the gap to Feeney at the restart while van Gisbergen headed a gaggle of cars with Brown, Slade, Mostert , Le Brocq and De Pasquale all trading paint in the jockeying for position.

The lead trio remained unchanged for the duration of the race, with Winterbottom able to fend off the challenges from Feeney, which included a bump or two on the final lap.

Mark Winterbottom went on to take the win in Race 13, the first for Team 18 in Supercars competition and Frosty’s first podium since Wanneroo Raceway in 2018.

Winterbottom, Feeney, Davison, Kostecki, Fullwood, van Gisbergen, Brown, Mostert, De Pasquale and Slade completed the top 10.

It was a rather prothetic moment as Winterbottom had spoken to Velocity Motorsport Magazine of his goals with Team 18 and his prediction that the Gen 3 era would provide new opportunities for that elusive first race win.

It took just 13 races in season 2023 for that to be realised.

“I’m emotional,” Winterbottom told Fox Sports. “It’s awesome. I told Charlie when I joined that we’re going to try and win. Far out it’s taken a while!”

“That was hard work and, obviously to Cam with his car on fire. That was scary following him.”

“Hi to Renee and the kids. I dunno, they come to the races and I don’t win one. Hope you’re watching, I love you and, I’m pumped!”

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