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Season highlights: Mostert's first factory Ford win

16 Jul 2014
WITH VIDEO: Young gun proved he's FPR material in Perth, winning for the first time with the factory team.
3 mins by James Pavey
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He debuted in main game V8 Supercars in Perth in 2013, and one year later achieved the best possible result -first place on 'double points' Sunday.

Chaz Mostert is the first to admit it was a bit of a bumpy start with his new factory team this season, but it didn't take long to prove his worth, with a podium finish on Sunday in New Zealand and then the win at the fifth round of 2014 at Barbagallo Raceway.

"I had my first (V8 Supercars) win last year and it was amazing, we never thought it was going to come," Mostert said of his victory with Dick Johnson Racing at Queensland Raceway.

"And this year I put a fair bit of pressure on myself driving for the factory Ford team and made some mistakes.

"Kind of like,I'm not too sure if I'm going to win this year.But we had some really good results at New Zealand and Winton. It's always promising when your teammate is doing well and winning races.

"So you know your equipment is good enough to win races - it just comes down to whether you're good enough as well."

Teammate Mark Winterbottom took the Championship lead in New Zealand and had been in the hunt most events. For Mostert, it was just a matter of managing his aggression and biding his time for the right opportunity.

And then finally, Sunday in Perth, it arose. Strong car pace and good strategy calls helped Mostert progress from fourth on the grid to round up teammate Mark Winterbottom and Craig Lowndes for the victory.

"The car was on fire, it was fantastic," the young gun said.

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Celebrating with his team and being able to deliver for those who work hard behind the scenes was important to Mostert -particularly given he'd worked in the factory himself.

"I worked with most of the guys on the workshop floor for the last couple of years and it's kind of funny I still feel like the broom guy," Mostert said.

"It's good, when we get up there we celebrate as a team and it's absolutely fantastic, good to give back... The second win meant just as much as the first win and now I'm hungrier than ever.

"I can't wait for the next one if I'm lucky enough."

The 22-year old now heads to the track he earned that first ever V8 Supercars win with DJR.

On loan to the team from FPR -the teams having a technical alliance - after his breakout win, one of the key talking points of the 'silly season' was whether Mostert would continue on with DJR or shift into the factory seat.

Team principal Tim Edwards backed Mostert's ability and said early on he expected the young driver to not just fill the shoes of departed driver Will Davison in 2014, but help improve the team's standing from second to first on the points ladder this time around.

With FPR second in the team's championship, 183 points down on Red Bull Racing in the team's Championship, and Mostert 10thin the drivers' standings -with an aim of finishing top five -the #6 Pepsi Max Falcon is definitely one to watch this season.

Was Mostert's win in Perth, his first with FPR, your favourite moment of 2014? Vote in the v8supercars.com.au poll and tell us why below.

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