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Mostert's view on those final laps

22 Oct 2014
Plenty said by Whincup and Red Bull - but how does the Bathurst Champ see the closing stages of the race? Chaz chats ahead of the Gold Coast 600.
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There has been plenty from Jamie Whincup and the Red Bull camp on those closing laps at Bathurst - but what does the newly crowned winner have to say about the intensity of the battle?

With the Castrol EDGE Gold Coast 600 only days away, there hasn't been much time for young gun Chaz Mostert to soak up the win.

"It definitely hasn't sunk in at all yet," he told v8supercars.com.au.

"It's been hard to really look back and reflect on it. Can't wait to get home, chill out a little bit and watch the race a few times and see exactly what was going on, because most of the day we were nowhere and at the end we were right up there!

"It's pretty hard to try and work out how we got there ... because it's such a long day - but those last few laps we were on fire!

"It was electrifying going around the mountain and seeing all the fans getting up and supporting us. We were duking it out, me and Jamie, and it was good to get one over him and get the name on the Bathurst 1000 trophy. Too unbelievable to really sink in yet."

Interestingly, prior to Pirtek Enduro Cup kick off, Mostert described himself and co-driver Paul Morris as nobodies and "just lucky" to have earned race wins. But at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, having driven from last on the grid, overcoming accidents, setting a new race lap record, and refusing to back down on five-time Championship winner Whincup showed a gutsy drive from the 22-year old.

"Everything just pieced itself together... it's a Bathurst 1000, you never know what's going to happen," the Ford Pepsi Max driver said.

As Whincup ran low on fuel, Mostert clinched it on the final lap at Forrest's Elbow.

"If he [Whincup] coughed and spattered I was going to give him a push.

"I was that far up his clacker I wanted to put the pressure on all the way to the finish line.

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"Coming across the top he was conserving hard and I think I might have had put my PBs [personal best laps] in across the top ... I hung it out, I even got scared at my old favourite corner there, the tree [where he crashed last year], and it was on.

"Got to Forrest's Elbow, came in late and I was determined to go down the inside and he covered. We pushed a little bit and he obviously had no go, on fumes, and it was unbelievable coming down Conrod and seeing some Ford flags waving, going nuts, coming through the last corner.

"Hearing the cheer - you can hear it through the car - was an unbelievable experience."

Mostert was monstering Whincup that final lap, taking every opportunity to rattle the leader.

"I just wanted to put him off. I just really wanted to get in his mirrors, make him feel frustrated coming down the hill and hopefully force him into a mistake in one of the corners you make mistakes, like Forrest's Elbow... I was committed once I got to the Elbow, I was going to be committed in the last corner and committed in the Chase.

"The only thing that was going through my head was, [when I was] back here years ago spectating, watching Davey Reynolds come second to Whincup - and he kicks himself he didn't have a real solid crack, he was happy with second ... I just tried to get my head down, catch Whincup and I just - it's unbelievable ... I was determined, and look what we've got!"

This time last year, heading into the Gold Coast, it was announced Mostert would step up from Dick Johnson Racing to the factory-backed Ford team for 2014. And his Bathurst 1000 win comes 20 years after another young unknown - Craig Lowndes - was noticed at the Mountain, coming second with Brad Jones.

"Last year coming off Bathurst I had one of the worst rounds of my year, crashed ... I was really looking forward to this year, getting the experience and hopefully finish on the lead lap and in the top 10 if I could. Never thought we'd get on the top step.

"Obviously the Gold Coast is a good event for us because last year, as you said, signed for FPR to have the main seat this year and it's just been an absolutely awesome year.

"Hopefully we can have an awesome event here. It's such a good track, good atmosphere and amazing that all the fans come out and support us and they get to party."

Mostert and Morris are still in contention for the Pirtek Enduro Cup, with Whincup/Paul Dumbrell leading them by 30 points. Click here for the full standings.

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