Mostert fires warning shot after ‘cracking’ Taupō comeback

Chaz Mostert is eager to build on his first win of the season in Race 9 of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship at the ITM Taupō Super 440.

Having entered the weekend 134 points championship leader Will Brown in the championship standings, a strong weekend has seen the WAU driver close considerably on Brown.

Although Mostert was outdone in qualifying trim by teammate Ryan Wood, who had a breakout weekend on home soil, the 33-year-old shone in race trim.

His Race 8 ambitions were over before they even began after getting tagged into a spin by Thomas Randle on Lap 5, however he more than made up for it with a hard-fought win in Race 9.

Mostert and Brodie Kostecki engaged in a fierce duel for the win on Saturday afternoon, a duel which saw Mostert come out on top and the reigning Bathurst winner feeling aggrieved.

Making Mostert's win extra special was the support of daughter Everly, and wife Riarne and her family, who hail from New Zealand.

"Had a cracking weekend in Taupō,” the two-time Bathurst winner said.

"Managed to get a race win on Saturday and a podium on Sunday, felt like I was at a second home round with Ri’s family being Kiwi so it was awesome to have success in front of the extended family.”

Mostert backed up his Saturday win with a strong race performance on Sunday after running on a compromised set of tyres in the Top Ten Shootout.

Starting ninth on the grid, Mostert steadily rose through the pack in the 61 lap finale, putting a much cleaner on Kostecki in the final laps to claim his second podium of the weekend and second in the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy standings.

Mostert's third place on Sunday saw his gap to Brown close to just 86 points in the battle for the Repco Sprint Cup, the winner of which will gain an automatic Finals berth regardless of Enduro Cup performances.

"On Sunday, I made the Shootout but had to run the used tyre so was down the back end after it,” he said.

"In the race, we ran a longer first stint and benefited from the clean air, I made my way into the top five at the halfway mark and with 10 laps to go I snagged the last spot on the podium from Brodie.

"Definitely didn’t think I’d be standing on the podium after starting ninth, the crew executed perfectly alongside the right strategy was the right potion.

Mostert also reflected on his epic Saturday battle with Kostecki, in a race that swung as each tyre stint progressed, with Kostecki's DJR Mustang better over a long run, and Mostert quicker earlier in the stint.

"There was a quite a quick turnaround for the second sprint race on Saturday, got out on track and I was definitely hungry for a win — had a great start and flew off the line into the lead,” he said.

"At the halfway mark, Brodie came through and had stronger tyre life and took the lead from me, so we dove into the pits in convoy with him.

"Glad to say we kept the fans entertained, making changes for the lead doing some rallycross along the way and I was happy to come out in front and push on from there."

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship continues at the Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440 from May 9-11. Tickets for the event are on sale now.