Mostert defends WAU, calls out online criticism
Chaz Mostert defends WAU from online criticism
Mostert fell out of championship contention at the Gold Coast
WAU star says he will "always die by their side, win, lose, draw"
Chaz Mostert has called out online criticism of Walkinshaw Andretti United, following a “super tough” weekend for driver and team in Surfers Paradise.
Mostert mathematically fell out of championship contention at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, with his races undone by a gear position sensor issue and refuelling rig error.
Had neither issue eventuated, Mostert would have been 195 points behind leader Will Brown, and 12 behind Broc Feeney. Instead, Mostert is 309 points down, and unable to win the title. Following Sunday's race, team boss Ryan Walkinshaw said he was "bitterly disappointed" for his driver.
Speaking after Sunday, Mostert opened up in an online blog, saying it was “one of the more disappointing weekends I’ve had at the races in some time.”
On Tuesday, Mostert posted an impassioned video to his social accounts, congratulating Triple Eight and its drivers, and hailing WAU’s efforts to get him back into the fight. After Darwin, Mostert was 279 points behind, but a mid-season surge helped him draw as close as 63 points to Brown in Tasmania.
"The dust has settled from the Gold Coast 500, and what a super tough weekend for me and the whole team,” the two-time Bathurst winner said.
"Not the results we wanted. We had such a fast car and to not get some surfboards, no doubt we're all gutted, and gutted for our fan base as well.
"First of all, I just wanted to congratulate Triple Eight and Will Brown and Broc Feeney to the stellar year that they've been able to put together, and obviously gonna fight it right down to Adelaide.
"Unfortunately, we don't have the points in our favour anymore and we've slipped out of that contention. So I just want to say on that, that it's been a fantastic year for Walkinshaw Andretti United and all the girls and boys of the team.
“For me, remembering back to Round 3 or Round 4 where I already thought this year was almost on the cards of not pretty much being over or even being in the championship hunt.
"I'm so proud of our team, of what we were able to do for the middle part of the year to really crawl back and create headlines of saying that we were a real shot of being in the dance at the end.”
In the second half of the video, Mostert — a noted activist against social hate — defended his team from online vitriol following the weekend, insisting he will “always die by their side, win, lose, draw."
"On the weekend as a whole, I'm a big believer that we win and we lose as a team,” the 32-year-old said.
"The drivers in the car, we fought and battled for 85 laps out there with that many gear shifts, that many corners, that we could easily make a mistake any day. And when we do make a mistake, we're very rarely crucified for it. But when our team makes a mistake, fans out there generally truly try to sometimes go above and beyond, crucifying the team.
"I can't be in the position I am to represent these awesome brands and get trophies throughout the years without an amazing team behind me. And I will always die by their side, win, lose, draw, no matter what it is.
"If you're insulting my team, you're insulting me. So, have a think about before you comment anything online, because I take it personally to heart as well, especially when you target WAU.
“Because without them, I wouldn't be where I am today. Thanks guys, love all the support too and all the positivity from the ones that are out there doing the right thing and trying to get their arms around myself and my team.
"Can't wait to see you guys in Adelaide, finish off the year strong and get the eye on the prize and hopefully try and take a couple of wins there."
Brown and Feeney will fight for the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship at the VAILO Adelaide 500 from November 14-17. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
