TICKFORD Racing team principal Tim Edwards has publicly declared his confidence of keeping his driver line-up intact for 2024.
During a press conference today at Symmons Plains featuring Edwards and his counterparts Barry Ryan (Erebus Motorsport) and Bruce Stewart (Walkinshaw Andretti United), the topic of the driver market popped up.
Given Erebus, Triple Eight and Dick Johnson Racing have all locked in both of their drivers for next season, the spotlight has turned to whether other leading teams could become a factor in the silly season.
While sources have indicated Cam Waters is coming off-contract, Tickford believes its spearhead is under lock and key.
V8 Sleuth understands Waters’ runner-up finish in last year’s championship may have triggered an option that automatically extends his contract.
In a somewhat cagey exchange, Edwards hinted that the future of all four current Tickford drivers is in the team’s hands.
“Well, they’re all pretty much under agreements for next year, in different ways,” he said.
“Some have already had options exercised on them, and others have options that are mine to exercise.”
Asked specifically whether that meant Waters will be at Tickford in 2024, Edwards offered no comment.
But amid Shane van Gisbergen’s impending NASCAR debut and a trip Stateside even sooner for Brodie Kostecki, Edwards did voice his support for Waters to explore similar cameos.
“I’ve always supported Cam doing other activities other than Supercars,” said Edwards.
“When we’re doing 12 to 15 rounds a year, it’s not a lot of racing so to keep himself match fit he has taken to sprintcars for the last few years.
“He has got a passion that he wants to try to do Knoxville as well so it’s not all about NASCAR, he loves playing in the dirt as well.
“It has been great, he feels like he learns a lot out of it. It keeps him sharp and he feels that he gets benefit out of it so I encourage him to do it.
“If he gets the opportunity I’m sure, like Shane, he would take it with both hands.
“He made a few enquiries when he was over there as well but it’s a difficult market to break into and it’s a lot of dollars and it’s not an easy thing to do but he would love the opportunity as well and I think he would thrive in it.”
Twice a runner-up in the championship and also in the Bathurst 1000, Waters enters this weekend’s Tasmania SuperSprint seventh in the 2023 Supercars standings.
