Chaz Mostert has gone back to back on home turf at the Gold Coast 500, clean sweeping the weekend and jumping up to P3 in the championship heading into Sandown.
For Ryan Wood, it was all on the line, he needed a win to make the finals. After qualifying P13, it was always going to be a challenge, but that didn’t stop him and the team from giving it their all.
On the other side of the garage, Chaz was once again near the top of the time sheets all morning during qualifying, earning himself a spot in the shootout. He put together a solid lap, making a small mistake at turn 11 which saw him line up P3 for the race, one spot better than yesterday.
When the lights went out both cars got off the line cleanly. Chaz held position whilst Ryan was biggest mover in the opening lap, up four positions to P9.
Running on an alternative strategy, the Mobil 1 Truck Assist Racing No. 2 stopped early on lap six, rejoining right alongside Brodie Kostecki who was also in a must-win situation for the finals.
Despite a cool suit failure in brutal heat, Ryan dug deep and kept pushing. Meanwhile, Chaz came in on lap 25 to undercut Thomas Randle, successfully jumping to P2 after the first stop.
A lighting fast final stop by the crew saw Chaz emerge in the lead, clearing Feeney by two seconds, a margin that fluctuated a few tenths across the latter half of the race.
With five laps to go, a late safety car bunched up the field, but Chaz was in the zone and kept his eyes forward, bringing the Mobil 1 Optus Racing No. 25 home first across the line to cap off a clean sweep weekend.
Ryan made a few positions late in the race, capitalising on cars ahead battling it out, coming home in P9 which wasn't enough to get him through to the semi-finals.
We’re gutted that Ryan’s finals campaign comes to an end here, but what a season it’s been; with his first race win, first pole and first podium. There are plenty more to come this year, this is only the beginning.
Next stop, Sandown.
Ryan Wood
“An amazing weekend for our team, two wins for Chazzie and I had a pole. Unfortunately, yesterday we had a mechanical gremlin whilst we were leading which hurt our chances for the finals.
“Today we went out with the hopes of being aggressive for the win, we pitted lap five and unfortunately, we were hoping for a little bit of rain and clean air but it didn’t go our way.
“The cool suit failed for me today, it’s super hot and humid here so it made it a tough one, really had to work for it today. Can’t wait to get to Sandown and help my mate Mozzie win this championship.”
Chaz Mostert
“I’m a little bit lost for words, it’s been an inconsistent year this year but this back end of the year we have put our best car forward and the crew got me that win today.
“It really took the pressure off us today by winning yesterdays race, the soft tyre was probably the biggest unknown for us coming into today, but stoked to come away with two wins.
“Woody didn’t get through to finals, I take that pretty heavy to heart, he deserves to be in Adelaide, now I feel like I’ve got more to do on our end to win it for the both of us.”