MOTORSPORT: Mostert is the early Supercars leader

Bathurst winner Chaz Mostert was back on top as the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship opened at Sydney Motorsport Park on the weekend.

Mostert warmed up with second place under lights on Saturday night with Walkinshaw Andretti United before claiming victory in the second of twin 77-lap mini-endurance events on Sunday afternoon in his Holden Commodore.

He left Sydney for the next round at Symmons Plains in Tasmania, where he won in 2021, with the early break over the best of the Ford Mustang racers, Anton De Pasquale.

What about defending champion Shane van Gisbergen?

He was the first-race winner with a typically composed performance in mixed conditions on Sunday evening, but a blunder in qualifying for the Sunday race left him 21st on the grid and he was lucky to finish sixth after an up-and-down day where he was even a lap behind at one point.

“How did I do that? I honestly don’t know. And there are people here who would kill for a sixth,” van Gisbergen told carsales.

Mostert knew exactly what he achieved over the weekend as he celebrated the chance to change his #22 from regulation yellow to the bright orange of the championship leader.

“What a cool weekend. I never thought I would have an orange number on my car. It’s just cool to tick that box off my list,” said Mostert.

“I feel like I’m driving the best I ever have. I just have to get better.”

Mostert was still behind in qualifying speed, as youngsters De Pasquale and Brodie Kostecki claimed the one-lap prizes, but he raced hard and fast with smart strategy.

“I still think we’ve still got some things we have to work on. Nailing qualifying is still hard. Let’s not shy away, the weather paid a big part.”

Mostert has a new teammate at WAU, speedy Nick Percat, who pushed him harder than last year, in a series of high-profile moves through the pitlane.

There is stability at Shell V-Power Racing, where De Pasquale was well ahead of veteran Will Davison and already shaping as one of the likely title contenders.

But he made two big mistakes, running off the track into deep mud and slush in opening practice and then crashing his Mustang while hot-dogging with Mostert on the slow-down lap after the finish on Sunday.

“Any weekend in this championship when you get two trophies is a good weekend. It’s always good to start the first weekend strong,” De Pasquale said.

Jamie Whincup is now the pitlane general at Red Bull Ampol Racing, giving up the seat in his #88 Commodore to rookie Broc Feeney. The teenager managed to lead a couple of laps on Sunday and, despite being roughed-up a number of times by the midfielders he was racing, finished with two top-10 spots.

“The results weren’t what I wanted, but I was still running up the front and battling for the lead in a Supercars race. There’s certainly positives to take out of it but there’s certainly a long way to go,” he said, marking himself hard.

But other veterans had a much tougher time, as Will Davison failed to shine in the second Shell Mustang, David Reynolds had an oil cooler drama in the Saturday race, and Tim Slade had to advance from poor qualifying positions in his Mustang.

Although Mostert is the early championship leader, he still has his eyes on van Gisbergen.

“The same guy that won last year is still the same guy to beat this year. He was a lap down and still gets back to sixth. He just doesn't have a bad day, even when it looks like a bad day,” Mostert said.

Race 1 – 77 laps

Race 2 – 77 Laps

2022 Supercars championship points:

Related: MOTORSPORT: Track change for 2022 Supercars opener

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