Waters and Randle dominate Gold Coast for Tickford one-two – Australian Associated Press

Cam Waters has kept his Supercars Championship hopes alive by winning the opening race of the Gold Coast 500, with Tickford teammate Thomas Randle helping him to victory.

Pole-sitter Waters fended off numerous overtaking attempts from front rower Richie Stanaway to take the lead from start to finish during the 85-lap race at the Surfers Paradise street circuit on Saturday.

Waters is fourth in the standings and his fourth win of the year brings him within 167 points of third-placed Chaz Mostert.

Randle showed his class in climbing four positions to second, hitting a quality pass against Broc Feeney in the 36th round to set up Tickford’s one-two.

Mostert briefly held second place before a gearbox problem opened the door for Randle.

Young man Broc Feeney finished third, while Mostert finished tenth.

Grove driver Stanaway had to settle for ninth due to a car balance problem and his young teammate Matt Payne finished fourth.

Feeney’s Red Bull teammate and series leader Will Brown remains in the lead despite a disappointing seventh place.

Brown started the race eleventh after crashing during qualifying earlier in the day.

An in-form James Golding suffered a nightmare visit to the pit lane, dropping from third to 16th after his pit crew struggled to replace his left rear wheel.

Cam Hill briefly stole the show when he reversed off the track onto the escape road.

Hill damaged both sides of his Matt Stone Racing Camaro after spinning through an awkward curb at the chicane.

He finished 23rd out of 24 drivers.

Reigning series leader and newly crowned Bathurst 1000 champion Brodie Kostecki finished fifth, while his Erebus teammate Jack Le Brocq finished last.

Le Brocq was sent to the back of the pack after a wall collision on the opening lap and fell nearly four laps behind after needing repairs.

RACE 21 RESULTS:

1. Cam Waters (Tickford Racing)

2. Thomas Randle (Tickford)

3. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight Racing Technique)

4. Matt Payne (Grove Racing)

5. Brodie Kostecki (Erebus Motorsport).