Speedy Mozzie Set To Sting
The only racer to have unseated The Bulls in season 2021 is planning to do it again at The Bend.
The difference between Chaz Mostert, and the others hoping to threaten Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup in South Australia, is that Mostert is flying high.
Not only did he win the final race of the Tasmania SuperSprint at Symmons Plains, the Commodore he races for Walkinshaw Andretti United is the big improver of season 2021.
“This year we’ve had the pace to be at the pointy end. I ‘d like to say we’ll stay at the pointy end,” Mostert told Race News.
The key is significant mechanical changes to the latest WAU racer, as well as the hard work by Mostert’s engineering partner Adam Debore and the rest of the WAU squad.
“We worked as a team extremely hard in the off-season on some parts that weren’t ready for last year. We tried to refine our product in the off-season.”
Mostert refuses to provide any detail, but is happy that the changes have produced speed and a win.
“With the car we had last year, we felt we had maximised the package. Last year we would change things on the car and wouldn’t get an answer if it was positive or negative. The feeling didn’t change in the car.
“It gives us everything we wanted. This year we can chase the feeling in the car, and also see a gain or loss in lap time.
“The car definitely makes a lot more sense. And when we’re chasing something we know the general tools to chase with.”
Mostert is not promising victory at The Bend, but he is hopeful and said the whole WAU team is pumped after Symmons Plains.
“We won the Sunday race in Tassie because we were the quickest. I don’t think I’ve felt like that for some time. The challenging now is to keep building on that.
“We’re race-car drivers, we race for success. Coming off Tassie and getting that race win, me and Adam and the team are happy.
“We really needed to get the monkey off the back. The next thing is to keep doing it. I’d like to say we’re a lot better this year.”
But he is not getting over-excited because he has had up-and-down results at The Bend in the past.
“Tailem Bend is a unique. I’m not sure how we’ll go, to be honest. It was a tough track for us last year,” said Mostert.
“There are a lot of unknowns about this year, about how this track will work the tyre. And the Tickford and DJR teams will be extremely quick.”
But his real focus is on Shane van Gisbergen, the runaway championship leader with Red Bull Ampol Racing.
“I’m not saying that Shane will struggle, but there should be some other cars in the mix. It might not be their strongest track but they have the capability to still win races there.”
But he has two things on his side, pace and momentum.
“I don’t think we’ve 100 per cent nailed the set-up yet. I think there is more to get out of our platform.
“At least we’ve got confidence That’s the main thing. And we’ve got speed.”
