MOTORSPORT: Ford Mustang hero headed for Holden Commodore?

Ford hero Chaz Mostert appears set for a switch to Holden following confirmation Fabian Coulthard has retained his seat at DJR Team Penske for the 2020 Supercars season.

Mostert, who had been tipped to take Coulthard’s place at the championship-dominating team, is now likely to vacate the seat of his Tickford Racing Ford Mustang GT to drive a Holden Commodore ZB for Walkinshaw Andretti United,

Mostert, who has only raced Fords in Supercars, is taking a big punt if he does move to WAU, as it has been years since the Melbourne-based former factory Holden squad has been competitive.

DJR Team Penske’s decision to re-sign Coulthard was announced on the eve of the Townsville 400. He enters the event second in the championship, albeit 319 points behind his team-mate, Scott McLaughlin, who has won 12 of 16 races run this year.

The team also confirmed McLaughlin had been re-signed for 2020, ending speculation he would move to America to race and confirming for the first time that the defending Supercars champion was actually out of contract.

Coulthard seemed odds-on to lose his drive after a disappointing 2018, with 2014 Bathurst winner Mostert the overwhelming favourite to replace him. But the arrival of the Mustang GT has revitalised Coulthard's career.

“Re-signing at Shell V-Power Racing Team is something quite special to me. The 2020 season will mark my fifth year driving for Dick Johnson and Roger Penske, and I have enjoyed being a part of this team immensely. Driving for two icons of the sport is a privilege, and I feel very fortunate to be in this position,” added Coulthard.

“The team provides both Scott and I with incredible equipment and amazing teamwork, allowing us to focus on our jobs without any distraction.

“The 2019 season has been amazing so far, and I hope that we can look for more of the same in 2020,” Coulthard concluded.

DJR Team Penske’s driver announcement will ensure the Supercars paddock will be a hive of activity this weekend. More than half the drivers are out of contract and the Coulthard renewal and mooted Mostert move will start other dominoes falling.

At least one of the existing WAU drivers – James Courtney and Scott Pye – will be moved on. Or both could go as they are each out of contract.

Mostert’s place at Tickford Racing could be taken by any number of drivers; young guns Jack Le Brocq (Tekno), Andre Heimgartner (Kelly Racing) and Andre De Pasquale (Erebus) are all potentially in the frame, along with Swiss driver, Simona de Silvestro.

Other drivers out of contract include David Reynolds (expected to stay at Erebus), Cameron Waters and Lee Holdsworth at Tickford (the former expected to stay, the latter’s future less clear), Tim Slade (BJR), Todd Hazelwood (MSR), Garry Jacobson (Kelly) and Garry Rogers Motorsport duo Richie Stanaway and James.

Meantime, Holden has extended its commitment to Supercars to the end of 2021.

The renewal with Triple Eight Race Engineering was unexpectedly dropped by team co-owner Jessica Dane during a television interview on the eve of this weekend’s Townsville 400.

The team’s primary sponsor Red Bull has also re-signed until the end of 2021.

Triple Eight, DJR and all of the Supercar circus' drivers will get two 200km to showcase their skills on the Townsville hybrid circuit this weekend.