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Live EPL on SN this weekendStage set for sizzling Sandown Supercars semi-final
Sebastian Tan, AAP • November 8th, 2026 6:52 am
Cam Waters is preparing to launch an all-out attack to reach the Supercars grand final | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Cam Waters has given himself an ultimatum as he prepares for a do-or-die Supercars semi-final: reach the grand final or finish the season on a recovery truck.
The second and final race of the Sandown 500 takes place on Sunday, and after the chequered flag falls only four drivers will remain in the hunt for the championship.
Tickford Racing driver Waters heads into the 79-lap, 250km race ranked fifth, and will be looking to win and book his spot in the decider in Adelaide alongside Saturday's winner Brodie Kostecki.
Cam Waters is just one point shy of the top four in the Supercars standings | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
If he doesn't win, the 32-year-old must essentially make the podium, as the top two drivers in the top-seven standings who don't win in Melbourne also qualify for the decider.
It won't be easy, with championship leader Matt Payne, last year's champion Chaz Mostert and Triple Eight Race Engineering star Broc Feeney all ahead of Waters.
So when the Tickford star was asked how he would approach Sunday's race, he admitted he'd have to be on full attack mode.
"(We) just need to go there and throw everything at it. Either we'll be in, or we'll be on a tilt tray," said Waters, who trails fourth-ranked Feeney by a mere point.
"Any of the top seven in this championship coming into this weekend deserve a shot at Adelaide, and could win it if they have a good day."
Will Brown must win Sunday's race at the Sandown 500 to make the Adelaide decider | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
One driver in an even stickier situation is 2024 Supercars champion Will Brown.
His only option of reaching the grand final is to win on Sunday after he endured a tumultuous Saturday, spinning out before being slapped with a 15-second time penalty that relegated him to 20th place.
Brown sits 88 points shy of his fourth-placed teammate, while Team 18's Anton De Pasquale is 38 points behind Feeney.
The drivers in the top four won't feel comfortable either, knowing a disappointing race could end their campaign.
Kostecki, currently ranked second, is the only finalist with a weight off his shoulders, but he's not planning to step back and enjoy the action.
Brodie Kostecki won Saturday's race at the Sandown 500 to earn a spot in the grand final | Photo: Supercars
That's because after Sunday's race, the points will reset, along with the first-place driver earning 150 bonus points and fourth only securing 78.
"I need to get some good points again, and hopefully jump up into the champion (spot)," Kostecki said.
"You don't want to go to Adelaide and be 150 points off."
Supercars Championship standings:
- Matt Payne (Grove Racing) - 4288 points
- Brodie Kostecki (Dick Johnson Racing) - 4246
- Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw TWG Racing) - 4195
- Broc Feeney (Triple Eight Race Engineering) - 4185
- Cam Waters (Tickford Racing) - 4184
- Anton De Pasquale (Team 18) - 4147
- Will Brown (Triple Eight) 4097
