+ Result: Practice 6
Just as he did in 2025, Cam Waters has put the #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG on top in final practice at the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour.
The Supercars star clocked a 2:02.3574s in the closing minutes to seal passage into Q2, in what was a session of surprises and shocks leading into qualifying.
Notably, Marco Mapelli (#93 Wall Racing Lamborghini) and Ryder Quinn (#101 Q/Team MPC Audi) were third and fourth, with the #55 Jamec Racing/Team MPC Audi continuing its fine form in second.
Waters was 0.34s faster than his benchmark lap from the corresponding session in 2025, suggesting times will continue to tumble as Saturday progresses.
The same couldn't be said for a number of heavy hitters, with five Pro entries missing Q2: the #26 Arise Ferrari, the #61 EBM Porsche, #2 JMR Corvette, #77 Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG, and #888 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR entry.
As cars got through pit stop practice following a Safety Car procedure test, Maxime Martin (2:08.4092s), Chaz Mostert (2:07.5507s) and Daniel Serra (2:07.3430s) set the early pace.
Charles Weerts was first into the 2:06s with a 2:06.8627s, ahead of the sister WRT BMW of Valentino Rossi (2:07.0458s). Martin (2:06.0083s) returned to the top, only for Mostert (2:04.7058s) to completely blow everyone out of the water.
The Optimum Motorsport McLaren of Ben Barnicoat joined Mostert in the 2:04s with a 2:04.9151s, before Martin moved the number to a 2:04.4378s. The Belgian went on with it, setting the fastest first sector before coming into pit lane.
Drivers battled for track position to get laps in. Notably, the #21 Herberth Motorsport Porsche of Alfred Renauer, who was involved in Friday's accident, negated a gaggle of cars through The Chase. Renauer recovered to record a 2:04.5546s to move to second through 18 minutes.
As the sun began to beat down on the Mountain, Roman De Angelis impressed in the #27 Heart of Racing by SPS Mercedes-AMG with a 2:04.3357s. Renauer, though, marched on and logged a 2:04.0174s, taking the field ever closer to the 2:03s.
Christopher Haase was first to breach the marker, setting a 2:03.7038s, before Matt Campbell showed potential in the #911 Absolute Racing Porsche with a 2:03.7218s. Campbell pressed on with a 2:03.6290s to take control through 24 minutes. Campbell improved his own number again to a 2:03.2890s, but eyebrows raised when Broc Feeney laid down the first 2:02s of the weekend, a 2:02.9169s.
Just as Mapelli improved the #93 Lamborghini to third with a 2:03.4059s, Feeney pressed on with a 2:02.9367s, falling just short of his previous flyer. Jules Gounon, meanwhile, put the 75 Express Mercedes-AMG into third with a 2:03.2957s.
Haase laid down a sensational time across the top of the Mountain to unseat Feeney as the session ticked over the halfway point. The German driver put nearly 0.1s on the #64 Ford, with Feeney handing over to Dennis Olsen.
With 18 minutes to go, Mapelli put the #93 Huracan on top with a 2:02.5768s. It kicked off a series of improvements up and down the order, as drivers and teams aimed to secure passage into Qualifying 2.
Kelvin van der Linde moved the #32 BMW to seventh with 12 minutes left, and immediately set the fastest first sector on consecutive laps. That became eighth as third-generation racer Quinn impressed to sixth with a 2:03.2954s.
Raffaele Marciello jumped up to second with a 2:02.7739s, before Scott Andrews moved ahead with a 2:02.6956s with five minutes remaining on the clock. Quinn continued to star, jumping to second with a 2:02.5773s.
A 2:03.0666s by Waters moved the #222 Mercedes-AMG to 12th with three minutes to go. On the following lap, the Supercars star nailed a 2:02.3574s to vault to top spot.
All the while, the #2 JMR Corvette of Earl Bamber caught Weerts' #32 BMW through The Esses, leaving the Chevrolet in 22nd and in danger missing a Q2 berth.
At the death knell, Kai Allen put the #100 Penrite Mercedes-AMG into eighth, dropping the #47 Supabarn Supermarkets/Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG into Q1.
Qualifying commences at 1:05pm local time, and will be broadcast live on Foxtel and KAYO Sports.