Mostert claims ultra-tight Taupo opener

Chaz Mostert has finished the first ever Supercars session at Taupo fastest after a closely fought practice.

Mostert’s 1:26.4937 at the death only just set the pace ahead of Matt Payne, Will Davison and James Golding as the top four were covered by just 0.09s.

Will Brown rounded out the top five and Brodie Kostecki emerged 12th fastest in his first session with the #1 in 2024, three tenths of the pace with the top 17 spread by less than half a second.

Being the only chance to come to grips with the new and unique circuit prior to qualifying, the uninterrupted 90-minute fact-finding mission was a critical and busy one, not being settled until the final moments when Mostert snuck ahead of Davison.

In the Ford 1-2-3 Dick Johnson Racing showed a welcome return to speed after two tough rounds, but the biggest takeaway was tyre degradation on the abrasive surface.

Broc Feeney made history by being the first Supercar to record a lap of Taupo, but it was Mostert who had the honour of leading the way after the opening flyers with a 1:28.658.

As drivers got more accustomed to the twisty new circuit, top spot changed hands on a lap-by-lap basis with Payne and Brown also on top.

After the back and forth tussle, Brown emerged with the fastest time of a 1:27.3895, 0.1842s better than Mostert.

Only Andre Heimgartner, Payne, David Reynolds and Ryan Wood would join them in the 1m27s window after 10 minutes and four laps before the tyres and times dropped away.

Brodie Kostecki back in the #1 at Taupo. Image: Supercars

Kostecki came out 17th, 1.1778s off the pace after his first crack as all 24 cars went out effectively straight away to come to groups with the new challenge.

Nick Percat was the first to come unstuck, finding the grass on the exit of the faster turn 9, while Waters had a little moment entering the long straight before going off at the proceeding turn 11 later in the session after a big lockup.

Interestingly drivers noted the cars were behaving differently on each surface change as they searched for the ultimate setup.

After a quiet period with little change on the leaderboard, Brown’s half an hour stint at the top was broken by Jack Le Brocq, who lowered the benchmark by 0.37s with a 1:27.0133 on fresh rubber.

Heimgartner also showed pace to give the home fans a cheer by putting car #8 up to second, two tenths away before being edged out by Percat and Randle.

Inside the final half an hour drivers bolted on fresh tyres again and Davison put the #17 into P1 by just 0.04s and the first to record a 1m26s time.

One of those was Kostecki, who had slipped to 23rd, but fired into the top 10 for the first time at the 62-minute mark to be seventh.

On his second attempt the #1 went to fourth, moments before Kiwi Jaxon Evans shot into the top three.

Davison was bested by his DJR teammate De Pasquale by the best part of two tenths before Brown went even better by going fastest in all three sectors.

Both the likes of Reynolds and Mostert also made big jumps up the leaderboard but could not quite knock off the #87.

However, Davison answered back with a strong final sector to sneak 0.06s ahead with 10 minutes to go.

Reynolds had the fastest first sector but backed out with the car “a bit all over the place” whilst Wood bowled a big wide at turn 11.

Kiwis Heimgartner and Payne made late moves into the top five but it was the car that started the session on top, which had the most pace.

Mostert nailed a purple first sector to sneak ahead of Davison and snatch P1 with just two laps to go.

After a busy first taste of Taupo, the next time Supercars hit the track will be qualifying first thing Saturday morning to book a ticket to the Top 10 Shootout.

Taupo Super400 Practice results

Taupo Super400 schedule (all times AEST)

Friday, April 19

Practice: 10.55

Saturday, April 20

Qualifying Race 7: 08.20

Top 10 Shootout: 10.00

Race 7 (60 laps): 13.05

Sunday, April 21

Qualifying Race 8: 08.45

Top 10 Shootout: 10.25

Race 7 (60 laps): 13.05

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Podcast: We’re going to Taupo… Tow Paw… Whatever. Supercars is back!

After a break that feels like months, the Supercars Championship is back and headed across the ditch to Taupo in the middle of the North Island. And yes, Brodie Kostecki will be there! As will the rain.

Somehow, the rain will also be in China for F1’s return to 中国. Philip Island was stunning on the weekend, just gone, if a little cold, but we chatted about whether Supercars should return to the land of penguins.

Plus, there’s more… all the news in the way only the Auto Action RevLimiter can deliver.

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