No penalty after Mostert-Whincup clash

Chaz Mostert and Jamie Whincup clashed on the final lap of the third Clipsal 500 race and the stewards have announced that no penalties will be issued for the incident.

Whincup was on the inside of Mostert in turn ten, resulting in contact between the two as Mostert turned in and spun into the barriers. James Moffat was an innocent victim of the clash, t-boning the stranded Ford Falcon FG X of Mostert, resulting in a retirement for the Nissan Motorsport driver as well.

“I did the best I could to stay as far left and he didn’t give me enough room and he ended up turning around over the front of me. I’m disappointed how it all panned out but for me, I don’t feel like I could have done anything, I was the innocent bystander… We were racing hard but I think he thought he was clear of me, so he has come across hard – but he wasn’t clear. A bit of misjudgment on his behalf. [But] no stress, he is a good guy, a good mate and we’ll chat it out later on and I’m sure there’ll be nothing going on,” said Whincup to v8supercars.com.au.

Mostert had got up alongside Whincup as the reigning champion slowed down due to oil on the track from Andre Heimgartner who was driving slowly to the finish. The two made contact in turn nine, resulting in the run to turn ten which saw the both clashing and Mostert spinning off into retirement.

“I came out of eight, Jamie was slowing heaps, like he had an issue or something. He blocked into nine, I went to the outside and did the over and under on him, we rubbed a little bit on the exit there and I tried getting off him. I felt like I might have gapped him or he might have had an issue and stopped or something because I couldn’t hear him anymore, the engine noise, my mirror was faulty from previous laps before. I thought I’d leave a bit of room in case he was still there and I don’t know, I don’t know if I’ve left enough or how far up he was – I really have no idea. I’m really gutted for the guys that have put in all their hard work to get these cars here. To DNF in a big points race on Sunday, also with a race yesterday from my mistake. I’m really gutted … I don’t want to start like that,” said Mostert.