How fatherhood has rejuvenated Mostert

Chaz Mostert is relishing in the joys of becoming a father, hailing a “beautiful time” for his young family amid a strong start to his 2024 Supercars campaign.

Over the years, Mostert has grown up before Supercars fans' eyes, maturing as a person and racer since he debuted as a fresh-faced 21-year-old in 2013.

Several factors have helped shape Mostert into the household name he is today, twice winning Bathurst and emerging as one of the key personalities of the sport.

But perhaps one of the biggest factors for Mostert’s renewed outlook and on-track performance in 2024 been his transition into fatherhood.

It is in the household where Mostert is enjoying a new lease on life, with the Walkinshaw Andretti United star recently welcoming his first child with fiancé Riarne Marwood.

Mostert’s daughter, Everly Rose, was born two days after the Melbourne SuperSprint in March, amid a strong start to the season for the Ford star.

It capped a whirlwind year for the couple, with Mostert proposing to Marwood last May, just days after the stillbirth of Hazel.

It recently culminated in a supreme run to victory for Mostert in Perth, his first since December 2022, and WAU’s first as a Ford team. Before Perth, he had three podiums and two poles from the first three rounds, and could easily have scored more.

When asked after his Perth victory how he is enjoying his time as a new dad, Mostert joked he has been motivated to find more speed on track, but was benefiting from an "absolutely amazing" life away from the car.

“Everyone kind of says when you have a child, you're supposed to lose three tenths," said Mostert, who dedicated the win to the memory of Lee Holdsworth's late father, Glen.

“I feel like I need to drive like I’m 20 or 21 again, so I'm full beans out there at the moment.

"But, obviously home life's a big part of any sport, and my home life's absolutely amazing.”

Mostert is one of seven fathers on the 2024 Supercars grid, along with Andre Heimgartner, Mark Winterbottom, David Reynolds, Tim Slade, James Courtney and Will Davison.

The 334-race veteran jetted off to New Zealand shortly after the arrival of Everly Rose, and despite missing home, praised partner Riarne as they navigated the latest chapter of their young lives.

“I feel like I have a whole new respect for mums out there, what every mum has to go through,” he said in New Zealand.

“As a dad, you feel like you contribute probably about 10 percent, definitely in the first six months, as everyone tells me.

“It’s a beautiful time for us. Little bit less sleepless nights, but that’s a lot more for Ri than it is for me at the moment.”

Away from home, Mostert has also launched his own racing team, Method Motorsport, which debuted at the Bathurst 12 Hour.

He has also continued his charitable efforts, most recently combining with Ryan Wood and Will Brown in a 12-hour Excel enduro, and is racing a Ferrari in GT World Challenge Australia.

Key to his renewed love of racing is WAU itself, with Mostert re-signing with the team at the end of 2023 — a deal that is now delivering on its promise to deliver wins.

“In saying that, I've been doing some other stuff, doing some GT racing, owning my own team for the first time,” he continued in Perth.

“The sponsors that ride this team — you see Mobil 1 on the bonnet, they’ve been associated with the team for 31 years, which is absolutely crazy.

“When you get those people involved in an environment you're in, I really love being here.”

Mostert is third in the championship heading to the betr Darwin Triple Crown on June 14-16. Tickets for the event are on sale now. International viewers can follow all the action on Superview.