How Mostert could win from 'painful' Tasmania weekend
Chaz Mostert finished 14th, 19th and 18th in Tasmania races
Mostert was "really happy" with key changes, says WAU boss Carl Faux
WAU star fifth in points heading to Perth on June 6-8
Walkinshaw Andretti United believes it could have unlocked key changes on Chaz Mostert's car for future rounds despite the star driver battling through a "painful" weekend in Tasmania.
The two-time Bathurst winner said his Tasmania weekend was a "really, really tough one,” adding his Sunday performance was "probably one of of my worst.”
Mostert finished 14th, 19th and 18th in the three races, and was penalised twice over the course of the weekend.
Mostert fell from 86 to 250 points from the championship lead, and is now 105 points above the Finals cut-line after failing to score a top 10 race finish at a multi-race round for the first time since Perth 2022.
It was a tale of two stories at WAU, with Ryan Wood breaking into the top 10 in points and starting second for Sunday's race, with Mostert second-last.
Mostert gained five positions on the first lap on Sunday's race, but caught in traffic, copped a 15-second penalty over causing a concertina at the hairpin.
Crucially, Mostert took his penalty at his stop on the following lap, before he was trapped one lap down after a Safety Car on lap 30. The poor timing made for a long race for Mostert, although he managed to find strong pace in his Mobil 1 Optus Ford.
Speaking after the weekend in a Ford Performance release, WAU Team Principal Carl Faux suggested the team unlocked something on the #25 Mustang that left Mostert "really happy," which could prove a winning formula in coming rounds.
“There is something niggling on Chaz Mostert’s car, which was a bit painful," Faux said.
"But we tried something for later in the year and he was really happy with it. We’ve unlocked something that will be great for upcoming rounds.”
Mostert said he was still finding his feet with his car, adding: “Super tough one this weekend for the 25, but not through lack of trying.
"The team gave me as many changes as we could possible fit in this weekend. I’m still lacking a little bit of confidence with the car but we will get there.
“Overall, disappointed for the team and our partners and fans but we will bounce back. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger and we’ve already got eyes on the next one.”
Faux also hailed Wood, who has shed an unwanted nickname in the WAU garage.
“Ryan Wood showed us what could do now that he knows how to handle the tyres," Faux said.
"It was two Top Ten Shootouts in a row, and he’s now lost the nickname ‘jigsaw’ because he used to fall to pieces."
Mostert and Wood will resume their 2025 campaigns in Perth on June 6-8, where Mostert won the opener after the WAU drivers shared the front row.
