CHAZ MOSTERT SWEEPS TO VICTORY IN QUEENSLAND

Chaz Mostert leading from the start in Queensland – Photo: Rhys Vandersyde

Chaz Mostert has taken his second victory of this year’s Supercars season in Race 16 at Queensland Raceway.

A bad start from championship leader Scott McLaughlin allowed Mostert to take the lead early, as the leading quartet of Mostert, Whincup, Coulthard and McLaughlin running within 1s of each other. Lap 11, McLaughlin made his move and was the first of the leaders to pit, Mostert and Whincup countered a lap later and crucially Whincup jumps the Prodrive Racing Australia driver in the pits.

Will Davison toured the Turn Three gravel trap with the first of multiple left front failures for the Tekno Commodore, which forced the team to park it later in the race. Nissans were in the wars again as this time Michael Caruso and Jack Le Brocq collided, causing damage to both cars but Le Brocq suffered the most and was forced into retirement. The race didn’t get any better for Caruso, who failed to finish the race with engine issues.

Whincup led after the first cycle of pit stops, while his Triple Eight teammates Shane van Gisbergen and Craig Lowndes charged towards the leading pack. Whincup and Mostert pitted together on lap 34 for their second stops, but it was Mostert, who jumped Whincup. Meanwhile, Coulthard became the race leader and encountered problems with the faster lapped traffic of Blanchard and Holdsworth, who unlapped themselves thanks to their newer tyres.

Mostert soon created a 1.4s margin back to Whincup, which grew to 1.8s by lap 43. Behind, van Gisbergen and Lowndes were battling their way through, though the Kiwi clawed his way through faster than the veteran. McLaughlin made his move on lap 48 and past Whincup, but was unable to make any in roads on Mostert until a late race Safety Car to remove debris caused by a front left tyre blow out for Nick Percat.

Chaz Mostert takes the win at Queensland Raceway – Photo: Rhys Vandersyde

In the end it was Mostert, who held his nerve to win from McLaughlin, van Gisbergen, who Whincup let past to attack the lead pair. Rounding out the top five was Coulthard, ahead of Lowndes, Tim Slade, Cameron Waters, David Reynolds and Winterbottom.

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