Chaz Mostert takes pragmatic approach after latest DNF
Mostert taken out of contention, suffers second DNF of 2026
Reigning champ not sitting on Sunday despair, backs team
Chaz Mostert insists Sunday’s DNF shouldn’t define another standout weekend, while claiming there were still key improvements from the upgraded Supra engine.
The reigning champion was ruled out of Sunday’s Queensland Raceway finale with an engine issue, which is set to be investigated on Monday.
Mostert was in effective sixth when he was forced into the garage, where he remained for the rest of the race.
The problem has yet to be identified at the time of publication, with Mostert one of four Supras fitted with the new ‘B-spec’ engine for the weekend’s action.
Walkinshaw TWG Racing and Supercars will strip down the engine and investigate the issue, ahead of Tuesday’s all-in enduro test day, also at Queensland Raceway.
Mostert refused to point the finger over the costly DNF, instead paying tribute to his hard-working squad.
The DNF was a bitter footnote on what had been an otherwise brilliant return to form, with Mostert still 242 points ahead of 11th despite Sunday's non-score.
“We're not sure exactly what happened today,” Mostert said on Supercars’ Equip Super Cool Down Lap podcast.
“No doubt, we've got one of the best teams in the business. The amount of hours and work that's gone into this brand new car coming into this year has been [through] no lack of trying.”
In a team release, Mostert added: “We can’t let today take away from the overall weekend.
“I have the best crew and team behind me, they never give up when the chips are down, I wouldn’t ask to do this with anyone else, and we are rolling in to some big weekends from here.”
The engine performance itself impressed Mostert, who added on the broadcast: "Performance-wise this weekend seemed to be a little bit stronger.
"We've spoken about a little bit of a hole in the rev range. For me, the engine feels a lot more linear in that, better in drivability. Not that I really lit up any top speed traces this weekend, but for me, the drivability felt better. That from our little Toyota Supra was a positive."
The two-time Bathurst winner is also keen for the test day, which offers Toyota teams even more opportunity to put miles on the upgraded engine.
“Trying to go for trophies the last couple of rounds, we've probably still been a little bit behind the eight ball,” Mostert continued on the podcast.
"I'm really excited for Tuesday. We don't often get many test days, but I feel like where we have been over the last three rounds, there's some opportunities for us to push a little bit more.
"And especially this weekend, it's always a good opportunity where you have the first test day at SMP, try to run into the round and see if you learn stuff.
"This is the best test days of the year because we just finished a round here. Obviously, we're trying to gear up for enduros and get co-driver laps, but no doubt there'll be still a few little things on the test plan to try and go through."
