Mostert backs Townsville gamble to find speed

Chaz Mostert has forecast a big swing at car set-up in Friday Townsville practice to find more speed.

Mostert snapped a torrid run of form and misfortune to win the Darwin finale.

It was the tonic required for Mostert and Walkinshaw Andretti United after miserable rounds in Perth and Winton.

Mostert left the third round at Albert Park just 162 points behind championship leader Shane van Gisbergen.

However, he surrendered 312 points to van Gisbergen over the Perth, Winton and Darwin rounds, and is now 474 points behind.

Darwin was punctuated by disqualifications from Practice 2 and the Saturday race, in which Mostert finished fourth.

Mostert’s average finish position ahead of his Race 18 win, disregarding his Race 16 exclusion, was 11.6.

Mostert scored a stunning Darwin win last month

While delighted to secure a stunning Darwin win, Mostert knows he and his team have much more speed to unlock.

He suggested the dual Friday practice sessions in Townsville will be the time to try and find it. 

“We’ve still got a fair bit of work to do,” he said after his Darwin win.

“We still think we’re a bit behind the eight ball.

“But when we get it right, we can show we can fight up the front.

“Qualifying has been our nemesis; we always have to come from a little far back.

“We’re hoping to have a tune-up and a gamble in practice in Townsville to see if we can make the car a bit quicker.

The cornerstone to Mostert’s Darwin victory was a strategy gamble and smart defensive driving.

Mostert celebrates a Townsville podium last July

The two-time Bathurst winner has never won in Townsville, which will host dual 250km races next weekend.

He clinched a Townsville podium in a sprint race last July, but is winless in 26 starts in North Queensland.

However, the Darwin win proved that a combination of belief and speed can propel Mostert and WAU to the front.

“Any time you have 10 laps to cover your tyres and you hang on, it’s amazing,” Mostert said.

“We still had belief we could do it, but there’s been unlucky stuff the last few rounds.

“The pace has been there and thereabouts, but still behind the front guys.

“I’m excited to build on it, go to Townsville and tune this rocket up a bit more, and build momentum.”

Cars will hit the track for dual practice sessions next Friday. Purchase your NTI Townsville 500 tickets now.