Chaz Mostert takes first FPR victory in final Barbagallo race

Chaz Mostert became the tenth winner in 16 races after the final Perth 400 V8 Supercars race at Barbagallo today. The Ford Performance Racing driver started fourth but made his way to the top during the race to take his second career win by two seconds over Triple Eight Race Engineering driver Craig Lowndes.

The 22-year-old got past pole sitter Lowndes for the lead at mid-point of the race. Lowndes was able to reel Mostert in, applying hard pressure, but was never able to put in an attack and dropped back in the last part of the race.

Mostert’s team mate and championship leader Mark Winterbottom made it two Fords in the top three by claiming the final podium spot after running a different pitstop strategy with longer stops.

Reigning champion Jamie Whincup gained two positions from sixth on the grid to finish fourth in his Holden Commodore, with the Brad Jones Racing duo of Fabian Coulthard and Jason Bright in positions five and six.

There were several cars in trouble with left rear puncture. Both Erebus Motorsport drivers Will Davison and Lee Holdsworth suffered from spectacular punctures, as well as both Holden Racing Team drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney, with the latter being involved in the top fight before his puncture.

David Wall finished seventh for Dick Johnson Racing with the best Nissan driver being James Moffat in eighth position. Manufacturer colleague Michael Caruso sandwiched Rod Nash Racing’s David Reynolds in ninth and tenth position.

Race one winner Scott McLaughlin had a tough race in his Volvo S60, dropping from third on the grid to 17th in the race. McLaughlin was not able to match the pace of the front runners and had contact with several drivers during the race, including one where Tim Slade went into the back of him with McLaughlin coming close to spinning and Slade retiring from front suspension damage.

The V8 Supercars continues in four weeks on June 20-22 with the Skycity Triple Crown Darwin.