Stewards explain Mostert/Chahda wildcard clash

A post-race stewards report has explained why no penalty was issued over the early-race collision between race favourite Chaz Mostert and wildcard rookie Brad Vaughan.

Mostert caught the lapped Camaro and fired down the inside at Forrest’s Elbow on lap 23, with contact sending Vaughan into the barriers.

Vaughan, who had just taken over from Matt Chahda, lost his front bar in the incident, which remained on the side of the track before being retrieved.

Explained in the post-race report, Mostert had “significant overlap” on Vaughan, who “turned down” on the Mobil 1 Optus Ford and ultimately caused the incident.

The report reads:

On Lap 23 contact occurred between Car 25 and Car 118 at Turn 18 as a result of which Car 118 sustained some damage and spun.

The DRD in consultation with the DSA determined that Car 25 moved to overtake Car 118, which was a lap down, on the inside at Turn 18.

When Car 25 had significant overlap on Car 118, Car 118 turned down on Car 25. The contact was caused by Car 118. Car 25 was not affected. Therefore, the matter did not warrant referral to the Stewards.

Mostert/Lee Holdsworth ultimately finished fifth, with the Chahda/Vaughan car 15 laps down in 25th.

A later incident between Jayden Ojeda and Tony D’Alberto also didn’t warrant penalty, with both cars sliding off at The Chase on lap 34.

The report reads:

On Lap 34, Car 9 moved to overtake Car 11 at the entry to Turn 21, locked brakes and both Cars ran wide off the edge of the track at the exit of Turn 21. Car 9 rejoined the track ahead of Car 11.

The incident was noted by Race Control. The DRD in consultation with the DSA considered whether Car 9 gained an unfair advantage on Car 11 as a result of an attempted overtake when Car 9 could not complete the overtake on track.

However, broadcast footage showed that Car 11 locked brakes before the apex of Turn 21 and was not going to remain on the track either. No further investigation of the incident was warranted.

There were two penalties issued during the race, a five-second penalty for Will Davison after he escorted the Richie Stanaway/Dale Wood car off at The Chase, and a drive-through for Triple Eight wildcard rookie Cooper Murray over a Safety Car limiter breach.