Mostert to race Focus in Bathurst enduro

Prodrive star Chaz Mostert is set to defend his Bathurst 6 Hour crown after confirming he will return to the race alongside Dunlop Super2 Series driver, Nathan Morcom.

The pair won the inaugural race in 2016 driving a BMW 335i E92.

This year the duo will upgrade to a Ford Focus RS LZ to defend their title.

“It was a pretty easy decision really, the race was so fun last year and Nathan asked me to do it again with him,” Mostert told Supercars.com.

“The race has a lot of great drivers in it already and the field is bigger and better this year.

“I’m excited to compete on any weekend I can and I’m excited to race around Bathurst again in such a cool car.

“As you know, production cars are where Australian motorsport has been built from, so it’s kind of cool to get back to them.”

Last year’s race marked Mostert’s return to the Mount Panorama circuit after his 2015 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 crash.

With a new car for the race in 2017, Mostert is hoping to go back-to-back despite heading into the unknown.

“We drove the BMW hard last year to keep up with some of the Class A cars, so hopefully the Focus will be one of the quickest on track and we can get the reliability we need,” Mostert said.

“I’ve been doing a lot of karting lately and it’s another weekend where you’re there to compete and try to win.

“But it’s different to Supercars full-time. It breaks up the weekend and any laps around Bathurst you’ll always take.

“I’m excited to get back there, to get some laps and drive a new car there with Nathan.”

Fellow Supercars driver Tim Slade confirmed last year that he will join the field in a CXC Racing Mitsubishi EVO.

Already at 66 cars for 2017, Mostert expects the race to grow even further in the coming years.

Supercars Hall of Fame member John Bowe and former full-time driver, David Wall, finished third last year while Mostert’s 2014 Bathurst 1000 winning teammate Paul Morris was another entrant

“It’s pretty hectic, and great for when you do the (Bathurst) 12 Hour and come up on slower cars, it teaches you great race craft,” Mostert added.

“We’ve got a couple of Supercar drivers that are getting out there and getting amongst it.

“For me, (it was) just to go racing with my mate Nathan and have a crack.

“I think it will get more serious in the next couple of years.”