The cliche driving WAU's 2025 championship bid
Chaz Mostert, WAU fought for drivers' title in 2024
Mostert missed out on several occasions to lose ground
WAU star take out of lead in Adelaide in Sunday finale
Chaz Mostert and Walkinshaw Andretti United took a major step forward in 2024, but CEO Bruce Stewart said the team needs to nail its “half-percenters” to win the championship in 2025.
Mostert and WAU stepped up in 2024, winning three races and fighting for the title for the balance of the season. However, a number of slip-ups cost Mostert dearly.
The two-time Bathurst winner lost a wheel in Taupō, lost a win in Perth due to an unsafe release penalty, qualified at the back in Darwin, missed out in the enduros, and suffered double heartbreak in Surfers Paradise.
In a sign of Mostert’s season, the Mobil 1 Optus Ford was hit out of the lead by Broc Feeney in the closing laps of the VAILO Adelaide 500, gifting victory to champion Will Brown.
Speaking on Supercars’ Schick Cool Down Lap podcast, Stewart said the team needed to nail the small moments when it mattered most, but praised Brown and rival squad Triple Eight.
"I don't want to run a really bad cliche, but it is true, it just comes down to the little half-percenters,” Stewart said.
"I know, ding, ring the bell... but it's so true, we just didn't nail them all at the right time, and we had a little few things slip through.
“Hats off to Triple Eight and Will, you know, they did a great job. I think when they run through the stats of how many races he's won and podiumed and been in the top six, you know, it's real consistency that wins.”
Mostert matched his third place finishes from 2021 and 2022, but his final standing doesn’t tell the full story of his performance, which was recognised at Monday’s Supercars Gala Awards.
Mostert won the Barry Sheene Medal, Jim Richards Award and Drivers’ Driver, sweeping the major accolades on Monday.
Come 2025, the final year before WAU shifts to Toyota, Stewart was determined to banish “false dawns” and take the Walkinshaw team back to victory lane.
“But Mozzie's had a great year, we've taken a step forward as a team. We’ve just gotta keep going,” Stewart said.
“There's been so many false dawns, you know, is HRT coming back, is Walkinshaw gonna take this step. We’re just bloody determined not to make it another one.
"We must, have to take a step forward and give the pride and the payback to all our fans and supporters, sponsors, who've been epic for us."
