Mostert determined to convert after WAU lockout
Supercars
18 May
Chaz Mostert keen to convert lockout to win
Mostert and Ryan Wood locked out Race 9 front row in Perth
WAU last won in Adelaide 2022, in final event before Ford switch
Chaz Mostert is determined to convert Walkinshaw Andretti United’s shock Perth front row lockout into a one-two finish, with the Ford squad eyeing its first Gen3 victory.
Mostert and rookie teammate Ryan Wood led the way in Boost Mobile Qualifying on Saturday, with the former taking his second pole of the season.
Wood, meanwhile, qualified a career-best second, with WAU setting the pace in Perth following a successful test day.
It was the first Walkinshaw lockout since Townsville 2014, when the Clayton squad ran Commodores under the Holden Racing Team banner.
Mostert’s last win, at the 2022 Adelaide 500, was part of a WAU one-two with Nick Percat. However, that came on the last weekend of the team's long storied Holden era, with WAU switching to the Blue Oval in 2023.
While Mostert has been a regular of the podium in the last 18 months, WAU hasn't visited victory lane in its Ford era. In fact, WAU is one of just three teams yet to win in the Gen3 era, along with PremiAir Nulon Racing and Blanchard Racing Team.
"The car has been really good since we hit the track this weekend,” Mostert said.
"We probably didn't quite do the best job in Q1 and Q2, still learning our sequences this weekend, but the last one I think we nailed it, we got the car right in the window with just a little tweak.
"I'm probably more pumped for the team as a whole, to have Woody on the front row as well rewards the guys and girls at WAU.
"They've been working really hard during the off season, so to have two cars on the front row will be awesome in photos, but it will be even better if we do it in the race, and make it a better photo collage after the weekend.”
WAU has added motivation to perform in Perth, with Mostert paying tribute to the late Glen Holdsworth, father of enduro co-driver and 2021 Bathurst winner Lee Holdsworth.
"Obviously this weekend we're here with heavy hearts and we're here in memory of some beautiful people, and I just want to take the opportunity to say hi to the Holdsworth family, Mostert added.
"Really sorry for your loss with Glenn and thinking of you guys, we absolutely love your whole family and he was an amazing person to have around the racetrack.
"This one's for Glenn and we need to go and convert this afternoon."
Supercars will return to the track on Saturday for the first 55-lap race of the weekend, Race 9, at 3:45pm AWST/5:45pm AEST.
International viewers can follow all the Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint action on Superview. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
