Monster Energy Racing’s Cam Waters has broken the Ford Mustang victory drought on the Gold Coast by holding off a late charge from reigning champion Shane van Gisbergen in his Red Bull Ampol Racing Chevrolet Camaro.
Behind the battle for the lead, Penrite Racing’s David Reynolds struggled with a late drama to be third as Thomas Randle just missed the podium in the Castrol Racing Ford Mustang and current championship leader Brodie Kostecki in his Coca-Cola Racing by Erebus Chevrolet Camaro.
It was a Ford Mustang lockout at the start of the race as the Blue Oval held the top four positions with Waters, Reynolds’ teammate Matt Payne, Randle and Mobil 1 Optus Racing’s Chaz Mostert, but van Gisbergen was again methodical in his rise through the field.
Payne dropped back due to a penalty for not giving way to James Courtney at the 150m marker before the Beach Chicane and was later given a kerb strike further dropping him down the order to ninth.
Scott Pye finished sixth in the Hino Trucks Camaro, from the R&J Batteries Chevrolet of Andre Heimgartner, Mostert, Payne as James Courtney completed the top 10 in the Snowy River Racing Mustang making three Tickford Racing entries inside it.
Following his qualifying dramas Will Brown was 11th ahead of Mark Winterbottom, Anton De Pasquale, Broc Feeney and Will Davison.
Jack Le Brocq was a retiree, so too Jack Smith and Cameron Hill was another to have problems as he was just classified as a finisher.
Tim Slade encountered trouble at the opening chicane on lap 1 after being nudged into the wall, but recovered to finish 21st.
Tomorrow’s action begins with qualifying at 10:05am AEST, 11:05am AEDT before another Top 10 Shootout and Race 26.