Chaz Mostert willing on weather-impacted Gold Coast 500
Rain expected across all three days of track action
Mostert won rain-hit 2017 Gold Coast opener, equally sodden Bend 500
If the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 is weather impacted as is widely expected, Chaz Mostert won't be complaining in the slightest.
Not only does the reigning champion have a wet Gold Coast win under his belt, coming in 2017, but he and the Toyota GR Supra were the package to beat in soaking conditions at Tailem Bend.
Mostert had the best pace of anyone that day as he romped away to victory in drying conditions. Underlining how strong the Toyota was, teammate Ryan Wood finished third, and Brad Jones Racing's Andre Heimgartner in eighth, with both drivers sharing the ninth-fastest race pace.
Based on the small sample size of wet Supercars races Toyota have contested, the Supras could be brought right into the fight, with rain all but certain across all three days of the event.
Mostert enters the Gold Coast in a spare Walkinshaw TWG Racing chassis after his primary chassis suffered extensive damage in a late-race shunt at Bathurst, but hasn't let that, or the forecast, dampen his spirits.
“It’s been a massive last week for our entire crew getting the Mobil 1 Optus Racing No. 1 swapped over to a new chassis ahead of this weekend," Mostert said.
"I can’t thank each and every single person for their long hours and dedication to getting both Ryan and I out racing this weekend.
“We will be giving it everything we’ve got this weekend for the whole crew, fans and our partners. There’s one goal, win and you’re in.
“It looks to be a pretty wet weekend, and we know our cars are strong in the wet conditions, I’ll definitely be doing my rain dance each morning, so it stays that way.”
Mostert was a dominant winner in a sodden 2017 opener, charging back through the field after co-driver Steve Owen got tipped into a wild spin at the first chicane early in the race.
He was also in contention for the storm-lashed 2018 finale, leading early before a severe weather system swept over the circuit. The race was ultimately declared a no result, with no points awarded.
Unlike last year, Mostert enters Surfers Paradise with pressure to perform, the first of three drivers underneath the cut-line, as 10 contenders get whittled down to seven at the end of the weekend.
However, Mostert is arguably Supercars' current wet weather master, having qualified in the top three 12 times in 17 wet qualifying sessions across the course of his career. It's little wonder he is willing on the weather gods.
"There's been some cool wet races over the years here in Surfers, it's always very unique when you come to a street circuit," Mostert told media on Wednesday, ironically in blazing sunshine.
"The drains are always blocked with rice bags or stone bags, basically stopping stuff getting out to the sea, so it generally creates a pretty chaotic [race].
"I think we've only had one race here where it's actually cancelled before, so hopefully we don't get that this weekend, but I'm not gonna lie I'm probably praying that it is a bit of wet weather.
"It really keep the drivers on their toes, and last time we drove the Supra in the wet it was really fast, so we'll see how we go."
Both Walkinshaw TWG Racing Toyotas enter the Gold Coast in the elimination zone, with on-track action kicking off with dual practice sessions and Boost Mobile Qualifying on Friday.
