The Bathurst 12 Hour qualifying session just delivered a thrilling showdown, but it wasn’t without its share of drama. Cameron Waters emerged as the pacesetter, edging out the competition by a razor-thin margin, while a red flag thrown by Kai Allen’s loose wheel added an unexpected twist to the proceedings. But here’s where it gets controversial: Mercedes-AMG dominated the top spots, claiming four of the top five positions, leaving fans and rivals alike questioning whether the field is truly competitive this year. Could this be the start of a Mercedes-AMG sweep, or will the other teams rally to challenge their supremacy?
Waters, piloting the #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG, clocked a blistering 2:01.5631s, finishing just 0.1075s ahead of Scott Andrews in the #44 Tigani Motorsport entry. Andrews’ performance was nothing short of impressive, but it wasn’t enough to dethrone Waters. Broc Feeney, in the #64 Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang, secured third place, while Luca Stolz (75 Express) and Jayden Ojeda (Tigani Motorsport) rounded out the top five in their respective Mercedes-AMG machines. This Mercedes-AMG dominance raises the question: Are they simply in a league of their own, or is the competition yet to find its rhythm?
‘The whole weekend, up to this point, we don’t really know where anyone is at,’ admitted Thomas Randle, Waters’ co-driver. ‘We’ve still got the super pole to go, so it’s great to be in that position. Cam has done an incredible job, but it’s truly a team effort.’ Randle’s humility was echoed by gratitude toward the entire crew, including STM, Ashley Seward Motorsport, and Chaz, whose contributions have been instrumental. And this is the part most people miss: behind every lap time is a team working tirelessly behind the scenes, often without the spotlight.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the red flag. With 13 minutes remaining, Kai Allen’s #100 Grove Racing Mercedes-AMG lost its left rear wheel just moments after exiting the pit lane. The incident left the team baffled, as footage clearly showed the wheel being fitted securely. ‘We’ll need to inspect the parts when the car returns,’ said Grant McPherson. ‘The nut looked tight and seated, so it’s pretty confusing.’ Despite the setback, the team managed to get the car back on track in the final moments, though Allen couldn’t improve on his 21st position after his fastest lap was invalidated.
Earlier in Qualifying 1, Lucas Auer set the pace with a 2:01.9715s, securing a spot in the Pirelli Pole Shootout. Laurin Heinrich followed in the #61 Earl Bamber Motorsport Porsche 911, finishing 15th. The real surprise, however, was Maro Engel, who qualified a disappointing 31st due to a suspected power issue on the #888 Team GMR Mercedes-AMG. ‘We would have loved to have had a go,’ Engel said. ‘Qualifying here is special, but unfortunately, we had a power-related issue. We’ll need to investigate and ensure everything is right for tomorrow.’
As the session progressed, personal bests began to pour in. Christopher Haase briefly topped the timesheets with a 2:01.8804s in the #55 Melbourne Performance Centre Audi R8, only to be overtaken by Andrews and Stolz. Feeney’s Ford Mustang briefly split the Mercedes-AMG duo, but Waters ultimately reclaimed the top spot with his 2:01.5631s lap. This back-and-forth battle highlights the razor-thin margins separating the top contenders.
But here’s the burning question: Is Mercedes-AMG’s dominance a testament to their engineering prowess, or is the competition simply off their game? Share your thoughts in the comments below. And don’t forget to check out the limited edition Full Credit Papaya Rules & Race Day Sunday merch, now available for a limited time. Will this be the year of Mercedes-AMG, or will the underdogs rise to the challenge? Only time will tell.
