Terrifying Moment As Car Bursts Into Flames During Supercars Race

In a heart-stopping incident during the Darwin Triple Crown, Supercars driver Cam Waters was forced to swiftly evacuate his car as it became engulfed in flames. The shocking scene unfolded just five laps into the race, as the 28-year-old’s vehicle caught fire near the front-left wheel. The blaze rapidly spread across the front and side of the car, leaving it completely consumed by flames.

Fortunately, Waters managed to skillfully steer the car to the side of the track before making his escape. Following the 35-lap sprint race, Supercars released a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming an ongoing investigation.

The statement emphasized the paramount importance of Waters’ safety, stating, “Most importantly, Cam Waters safely walked away from the incident unharmed.” Initial inspections, conducted collaboratively by Supercars, Tickford, and Herrod Performance Engines, suggest that a loose fuel fitting caused the fire and that it is unrelated to previous fires witnessed during the 2023 championship.

Earlier in the season, James Courtney’s Mustang also experienced a fire incident at the Australian Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne. However, Tim Edwards, Tickford team principal, asserted that the two incidents were distinct and unrelated. He clarified, “It’s different to what happened at the grand prix, where they were fuel fires induced by a different cause. There’s plenty of hindsight going on in the pit lane… But we’re all masters of hindsight.”

Edwards further explained that all the Fords have the same fuel connection in that area of the engine and acknowledged that with the benefit of hindsight, the layout could have been improved. Despite flames breaching the firewall, there appears to be minimal internal damage, unlike the previous incident involving Courtney’s car, which suffered extensive internal and external harm.

In the aftermath of the ordeal, Cam Waters took to Instagram to share a startling image of his car consumed by the inferno. He accompanied the photo with a caption that humorously juxtaposed the intense heat of the flames with the location, stating, “Didn’t know Darwin was this hot” alongside a fire emoji.

As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by drivers in high-speed races and the importance of quick thinking and safety measures in such intense situations.