How Cam Waters went from go kart a professional supercar racer
A motorsport legend will tear up the Grand Prix track this weekend. Find how he went from racing go-carts in the regions to competing at a national level.
Mildura
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The community of Mildura will have their full support behind a local motorsport legend who is preparing to compete at this weekend’s Grand Prix.
Cam Waters grew up in Mildura surrounded by motorsports thanks to his dad Chris Waters, who drove speedway in the northern border town.
So it should have come as no surprise when the younger Waters developed an interest in go-carts at the young age of six, going on to win a number of state championships and compete nationally in the sport.
He then graduated to open wheelers, competing in Formula Vee in 2009.
The following year he moved into the Australian Ford Championship, where he finished sixth as the top rookie before taking the outright title.
Waters told the Herald Sun he was “proud” of his progression through the sport.
“It’s really cool to make it the top class of Australian motorsports,” he said.
“It’s pretty hard to get here and not many people can make it, so I’m super grateful to my family and sponsors that have been with me every step of the way.”
He explained the hardest part of coming up the ranks as a driver was finding sponsorship.
“The biggest hurdle for any young driver is finding a sponsorship to make it through,” he said.
“The reality is that our sport isn’t cheap so without sponsors a lot of people don’t make it …
“I was pretty fortunate to have some great sponsors that stuck with me the whole journey.”
Despite his busy schedule, Waters still makes the time to go home to Mildura and spend time down by the river with friends and family.
“I try and come back as much as I can - I still have lots of friends and family out there,” he said.
“I loved getting out on the river and there are lots of nice places to eat as well around town.”
He said he underperformed in qualifying for the Beaurepairs Melbourne SuperSprint but hoped to do well at this weekend’s Grand Prix at Albert Park.
“We ran seventh through fifth when we really should have finished fourth,” he said.
“Hopefully we get through this and do well.”