Super Weekend for Mighty Mozzie

Prodrive Racing and Chaz Mostert finished the weekend with a 1st and a 2nd capping off Chaz’s most successful racing weekend to date. After setting a new lap record in practice Chaz kept the momentum going through the rest of the weekend.

Mark Winterbottom struggled early to find a set-up which he was happy with and despite the challenges, praised the response from his engineering team to drastically improve the car’s performance over the weekend.

Cameron Waters proved consistent again and is now continuously getting into the top 10. Despite a few setbacks while racing Cam is happy with his teams progress.

 

Saturday

Prodrive Racing has claimed a close second place finish in the opening race of the Ipswich Super Sprint with Chaz Mostert the runner-up at Queensland Raceway. Mostert was one of six drivers to go under the old lap record in qualifying and after qualifying third he jumped to second early in the race. Pitting with the race leader and eventual winner, Scott McLaughlin, the local driver made several key passes after his stop and held on to secure a vital haul of points.

Mark Winterbottom, another driver to break the qualifying record, started fifth and while he raced strongly in the early phase of the 39-lap race, he faded to ninth with several late-stopping drivers passing him on fresher rubber.

Cameron Waters was on for a solid top 10 result but for a delay in his only pit stop to drop him down the field. He battled home to 16th frustrated at not being able to make the most of his form.

 

Drivers' View 

Mark Winterbottom - #5
Qualifying: 5th – 1m08.91s
Race 15: 9th
“It was not the best race car, we struggled a bit. Strategically I needed to not come out behind Rick (Kelly) but the way the pit stops turned out we came out right behind Rick so it was a tough race from there. We struggled from there. To get past cars was hard and there is a bit of work to do. We just didn’t get the strategy to play out the way we wanted it to today. We survived but we’ll get another chance tomorrow.”

Cameron Waters - #6
Qualifying: 10th – 1m09.04s
Race 15: 16th
“It was a tougher end to the race than I thought we would have. Ultimately with only one pit stop required any delay had a big knock on affect and today we had a slight delay with one of the wheels and it cost us. Our pace wasn’t great but with Chaz’s result we know the pace is there so we’ll put in a big effort tonight and come back fighting tomorrow.”

Chaz Mostert - #55
Qualifying: 3rd – 1m08.90s
Race 15: 2nd
“I am ecstatic. I didn’t think that a podium was possible after the first pit stop when we came out in fourth. We trucked along for a while but we passed a few cars and had good tyre life too. To be able to have the tyres last to the end I am pretty proud of the whole team for their efforts. We still have a little bit of pace to find but we have some good data to work with. My goal for the weekend was to get onto the podium and I’ve achieved that. It is nice to go into Sunday having had a successful start to the weekend.”

Tim Edwards
Team Principal
“Strong drive by Chaz today and a great effort by the crew to qualify so strong at a challenging track. We’ve gained good data for tomorrow’s longer race but there is more work to do as not all of our cars were as kind as what we saw with Chaz’s car. It was an unfortunate day for Cam as he had been in contention for a big haul of points.”

 

Results - Race 15

1) Scott McLaughlin – DJR Team Penske
2) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing
3) Shane van Gisbergen – Triple Eight
9) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team
16) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing

 

Sunday

Prodrive Racing and Chaz Mostert have won the 200km feature race of the Ipswich Super Sprint in a commanding performance that maximised qualifying position, pit strategy and pure race pace.

Mostert started second and led into the first corner. A longer fuel fill at his first stop dropped him back to second place but the shorter fill time on his second and final pit stop vaulted him back to the lead. A late safety car compressed the field but he was able to hold off championship protagonists Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen.

The team again qualified all cars in the top 10 for the successive Sunday races, with Cam Waters finishing eighth from 10th running long on his first set of tyres.

Mark Winterbottom qualified on the third row but struggled throughout the race with his set-up and dropped to 10th by the flag.

 

Drivers' View 

Mark Winterbottom - #5
Qualifying: 6th – 1m08.91s
Race 16: 10th
“It was just a tough day really. I snagged a quick lap in qualifying through sheer determination but in the race our lack of pace was highlighted. The safety car cost us as at the end as it brought the late stoppers on our tail. We weren’t fast enough but with Chaz’s pace we can surely learn something. It was great for the team to have the win and we’ll look at what Chaz did as a possible direction for development. It was a frustrating weekend to not be quick enough but we know the pace is there.”

Cameron Waters - #6
Qualifying: 10th – 1m08.95s
Race 16: 8th
“It was an okay day for me. I qualified 10th and didn’t really get the most out of qualifying with a little mistake. I did something a bit different with the strategy and it worked to get me a few places forward. I struggled a little bit with overall pace but obviously it is great for Chaz and the team to get the win. It gives our cars a good direction heading to Sydney Motorsport Park where we race next.”

Chaz Mostert - #55
Qualifying: 2nd – 1m08.60s
Race 16: 1st
“I am ecstatic. It is great to get the win for the team and for Supercheap Auto. To get another win for them is exciting. My win at Phillip Island was the result of a real team strategy whereas this weekend we’ve had legitimate pace all weekend and the car held its pace in both races. I am looking forward to going to Sydney Motorsport Park for the next event. We’ve had some good results there in the past. If we can stay on the podium and keep pushing the upgrades through we should be in a good place ahead of the enduros.”

Tim Edwards
Team Principal
“It was a terrific end to the weekend. Chaz drove a commanding race and the entire team has been working hard to develop our overall package and today was proof that we are heading in the right direction. It was a hard-fought, legitimate win at a tough track so it makes it very satisfying. There is still clearly work to be done as we face our challenges but we end the event on a high which gives everyone a great feeling as we get closer to the Enduro Cup.”

 

Results - Race 16

1) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing
2) Scott McLaughlin – DJR Team Penske
3) Shane van Gisbergen – Triple Eight
8) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing
10) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team

Championship Points

1) Scott McLaughlin – DJR Team Penske: 1896
2) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight: 1767
3) Fabian Coulthard – DJR Team Penske: 1663
5) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing: 1545
6) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team: 1335
10) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing: 1210

Team Championship Points

1) DJR Team Penske: 3594
2) Triple Eight: 3402
3) Prodrive Racing Australia: 2580