Mostert's 'bogey track' challenge
Qualifying hot-shot Chaz Mostert's blistering 2015 pace faces a stern test at his self-admitted Hidden Valley "bogey track" this weekend in the SKYCITY Triple Crown Darwin SuperSprint.
In his two appearances at the track in the V8 Supercars Championship Mostert has managed to qualify in the top 10 once - seventh in 2013 when driving for Dick Johnson Racing - and finish a race in the top 10 only once - eighth in 2014 in his first season driving a Pepsi Max Ford Falcon FG II for Ford Performance Racing (now Prodrive Racing Australia).
"From my point of view Darwin is one of the hardest tracks on the calendar," Mostert told v8supercars.com.au. "I have under-performed there in recent years.
"It's a really hard track to get to grips with. You can miss the car setup by a little bit and it could really hurt you a lot because of the track surface and the high temperature."
But the young gun heads to Darwin this year on a roll, having snagged four straight ARMOR ALL pole positions in the new Falcon FG X. Claim five in a row and he will become the first driver to manage the feat since Ford legend Dick Johnson in 1988.
The new Falcon has proved a revelation for PRA, claiming the last six poles between Mostert and teammate Mark Winterbottom, who leads the championship. It's a complete reversal of fortune considering no Ford claimed a pole position throughout the 2014 season.
"My run of poles has been pretty special given I didn't have one before I claimed my first for the year in Perth," said Mostert. "Pole isn't as crucial as winning but in our sport at the moment qualifying is vital to executing your race plan. We've claimed six poles in a row as a team and won five of those races.
"I'd love to equal Dick's record given he's a Ford legend and I started driving for his team. We're on form and I like Darwin so we'll give it a crack on Saturday."
Mostert heads to Darwin with only one win this year and seventh place in the championship. His pointscore has been dented by crashes at the Clipsal 500 and - most recently - when leading the Sunday double points race at the NP300 Navara Winton SuperSprint.
Mostert is under no illusion about the challenges he faces at Hidden Valley. While his confidence is high and the FG X is performing well, track resurfacing and the change to tyre regulations which will see Dunlop soft tyres used in the second Saturday 60km race have him unsure of what to expect.
"I think now with the new track it's going to be interesting. My car is working better than ever, I am clicking with my new car really well at the moment and I think the fundamentals of the car are really suiting me.
"I think I am more than happy there going this year, happier than I have ever been. I am going to go there and give it a red hot crack. I would love to come away from Darwin with a podium. That would really be awesome and tick off a bit of a bogey track for my driving standard and my driving technique.
"But I don't know what to expect. There are a lot more different curveballs coming; tyres, track surface. But all I know is the FG X is firing on all cylinders at the momenta and is working really well. Hopefully it will work well there as well."
Mostert confirmed he and engineer Adam DeBorre will have some upgrades to the FG X to assess that have been developed since Winton.
"Teams are always upgrading things," he said. "Some things might do with set-up and some things might just do with general car-base as well. I am pretty sure we have some general car-base stuff which is exciting, but I think we are also looking at set-up ideas and components to change as well.
"The team has kept me up to date with what we are doing and it's all looking good. So it will be good to get to Darwin. When you are at the pointy end you have to keep innovating and push forward otherwise everyone else will catch you and go past you."
Stay tuned to FOX SPORTS and Ten/One this weekend - click here for full TV broadcast details for the SKYCITY Triple Crown.
