MOTORSPORT: TV winners showdown in big time at Bathurst

Cameron Waters became the youngest driver to finish the Bathurst 1000 when his Shannons Mars Commodore, run by Kelly Racing, crossed the finish line with Channel 7 weatherman Grant Denyer at the wheel. Officially, they were classified as Did Not Finish, having completed only 95 of 161 laps due to a lengthy pitstop to repair damage caused when 17-year-old Waters crashed early in his first stint. But that was always the team’s plan – just finish. So, it was mission accomplished.

Despite his rookie indiscretion – put down to inexperience on cold tyres and full tanks – Waters, who won the Shannons Supercar Showdown TV reality show, impressed his team with his cool professionalism and speed. He was ably supported in and out of the car by Showdown host, Denyer, who admitted to being rusty following a two-year racing lay-off after he broke his back in a crash. Despite his youth, Waters never seem overawed and calmly summed his race.

"I had a tough day at the start and damaged the car but the crew managed to fix it and I got back out and double-stinted and got quicker and quicker, so it was awesome," Waters smiled. "The alignment was out but I was happy to get a heap of laps in." The highlight?

"Just being here, it’s been absolutely awesome; just driving around this track has been amazing and the experience I’ve got out of it. Sticking it in the fence was part of the learning process, I guess."

Waters next goal is to win the Formula Ford championship. He has two more rounds of the to go and currently leads the series by 1.5 rounds, so he’s looking good. And V8 Supercar? It seems there are talks happening with more than one Fujitsu series team.

Full run down on the great race, the 2011 Bathurst 1000 final placings

Footage of Cam's massive spin on Day 3 from V8 Supercar YouTube Channel