The clearest sign of WAU's growing form
WAU moved from fifth to second in teams' points
Chaz Mostert won team's first race for Ford in Perth
WAU has best teams' finish of fourth in last six seasons
Lining up alongside Triple Eight in the Darwin pit lane has Walkinshaw Andretti United CEO Bruce Stewart feeling excited, but wary of keeping the strong form going.
WAU powered from fifth to second at the Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint, with Chaz Mostert taking home 293 of a possible 310 points.
Ryan Wood, meanwhile, was denied a podium at the final corner on Saturday, and is just 96 points from eighth in the championship — a remarkable turnaround after leaving Round 1 with zero points.
In the three rounds after Wood's double DNF in Bathurst, only Triple Eight has out-scored WAU, with Mostert also leaving points on the table after copping damage in Melbourne, and losing a wheel while fighting for the lead in New Zealand.
In the last six seasons, WAU’s teams’ championship results read two fourths (2021 and 2022), a fifth (2018), two sixths (2019 and 2023) and a seventh (2020).
Thanks to the new Live Pit Lane rule, WAU will be next to leaders Triple Eight at the upcoming betr Darwin Triple Crown. It ensures WAU gets a good look at their closest rivals in the drivers' championship, given Mostert is third behind Will Brown and Broc Feeney.
However, with Tickford Racing 80 points back, Penrite Racing 90 behind, and Shell V-Power Racing Team 135, Stewart knows WAU can’t rest on its laurels.
"Well, I think it's great that we're talking about it. It's great for interest in the sport,” Stewart said of the Live Pit Lane rule.
“You know, it's been a long time since we've lined up next to the guys at Triple Eight. So, that's exciting.
"But if we don't do a good enough job, we move back. So, it keeps the pressure on. It's a talking point, and gives us an opportunity to fight at the front."
WAU also scored its first front-row lockout since Townsville 2014, when it raced Commodores under the Holden Racing Team banner.
The team's leading form in Perth wasn't lost on Team Principal Caul Faux, either, who cited a pre-event test day as key to maximising performance.
"To be on the podium both days, and cross the line first on both days, was pretty special," Faux said.
"The front-row lockout on Saturday, with Chaz on pole and Ryan alongside him, was very special. Taking the first Ford win of the year was also great.
"We obviously picked a time to go testing and maximised the learnings from that, and rolled out strong."
Mostert is 175 points behind Brown heading to Darwin, but only 39 points behind Feeney.
