WAU targets Perth to restore Mostert to points lead

Walkinshaw Andretti United is already thinking about the next round in Perth as it aims to restore Chaz Mostert to the championship lead.

Mostert leads to the Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint just 32 points down on new leader Brodie Kostecki.

The WAU Ford star led Kostecki by a single point heading into Sunday’s Melbourne finale.

However, Mostert struggled with tyre life and slumped to 14th, despite fighting for the lead in the first half of the race.

Kostecki, meanwhile, benefited from clever strategy and car speed to race from 14th to third, and took the points lead.

The swing was 75 points, with Mostert mostly losing out on Sunday after three solid runs to fifth, fourth and fourth.

Critically, Mostert avoided a fate similar to 2022, when he led into Round 2 before dumping 155 points in a single weekend.

While Melbourne didn’t deliver trophies, WAU Team Principal Bruce Stewart is already thinking about getting the orange numbers back on the #25 Mobil 1 Optus Ford.

“It clearly has not been the weekend we had hoped and planned for, but we continue to learn a lot about the new Ford Mustang,” Stewart said.

“That means both the set-up needed for speed in qualifying and to race strong at the front.

“We now look forward to going to Perth, another very different track with super-high degradation of the tyres.

“We’re pushing forward with the Mustang and looking to move back to the lead in the drivers’ championship with Chaz.”

Mostert moved into the lead on lap 1 of Sunday’s race, but dropped like a stone to ninth in a matter of lates towards his late stop.

By then, the damage was done — but the two-time Bathurst winner, like his boss, is already looking ahead to Perth.

“Bit of a disappointing finish in the end there,” Mostert said.

“We were running strongly in the lead until late in the race, and we just didn’t have the tyre life to hang on to the position.

“Thank you to everyone for their hard work, we will regroup and go again in Perth.”

The 2023 season will resume at the Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint on April 28-30.