Prodrive Racing (Australia) and Chaz Mostert have won the 200km feature race of the Ipswich Super Sprint in a commanding performance that maximised qualifying position, pit strategy and pure race pace. Mostert started second and led into the first corner. A longer fuel fill at his first stop dropped him to second place but the shorter fill time on his second and final pit stop vaulted him back to the lead. A late safety car compressed the field but he was able to hold off championship protagonists Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen. The team again qualified all cars in the top 10 for the successive Sunday races, with Cam Waters finishing eighth from 10th running long on his first set of tyres. Jason Bright was 11th from ninth on the grid running a similar strategy, while Mark Winterbottom qualified on the third row but struggled throughout the race with his set-up and dropped to 10th by the flag.
Qualifying: 6th – 1m08.91s
Race 16: 10th
“It was just a tough day really. I snagged a quick lap in qualifying through sheer determination but in the race our lack of pace was highlighted. The safety car cost us as at the end as it brought the late stoppers on our tail. We weren’t fast enough but with Chaz’s pace we can surely learn something. It was great for the team to have the win and we’ll look at what Chaz did as a possible direction for development. It was a frustrating weekend to not be quick enough but we know the pace is there.
Cameron Waters – #6 Monster Energy PRA Ford:
Qualifying: 10th – 1m08.95s
Race 16: 8th
“It was an okay day for me. I qualified 10th and didn’t really get the most out of qualifying with a little mistake. I did something a bit different with the strategy and it worked to get me a few places forward. I struggled a little bit with overall pace but obviously it is great for Chaz and the team to get the win. It gives our cars a good direction heading to Sydney Motorsport Park where we race next.”
Chaz Mostert – #55 Supercheap Auto PRA Ford:
Qualifying: 2nd – 1m08.60s
Race 16: 1st
“I am ecstatic. It is great to get the win for the team and for Supercheap Auto. To get another win for them is exciting. My win at Phillip Island was the result of a real team strategy whereas this weekend we’ve had legitimate pace all weekend and the car held its pace in both races. I am looking forward to going to Sydney Motorsport Park for the next event. We’ve had some good results there in the past. If we can stay on the podium and keep pushing the upgrades through we should be in a good place ahead of the enduros.”
Jason Bright – #56 MEGA Bulk Fuels PRA Ford:
Qualifying: 9th – 1m08.94s
Race 16: 11th
“I am pretty happy with the day. We had qualifying pace and the race pace was strong. We lost out a little bit on the first pit stop which cost us a few seconds. That would’ve made a bit of a difference on the last stop which without the delay would’ve put us ahead of quite a few cars and saved some of the tyre grip for the end. That said, I am happy with the weekend and our pace which was as strong as we’ve had all year so we’ll keep chipping away.”
Tim Edwards – Team Manager:
“It was a terrific end to the weekend. Chaz drove a commanding race and the entire team has been working hard to develop our overall package and today was proof that we are heading in the right direction. It was a hard-fought, legitimate win at a tough track so it makes it very satisfying. There is still clearly work to be done as we face our challenges but we end the event on a high which gives everyone a great feeling as we get closer to the Enduro Cup.”
2) Scott McLaughlin – DJR Team Penske
3) Shane van Gisbergen – Triple Eight
4) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight
5) Fabian Coulthard – DJR Team Penske
8) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing
10) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team
11) Jason Bright – MEGA Fuels Racing
2) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight: 1767
3) Fabian Coulthard – DJR Team Penske: 1663
4) Shane van Gisbergen – Triple Eight: 1635
5) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing: 1545
6) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team: 1335
10) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing: 1210
21) Jason Bright – MEGA Racing: 711
2) Triple Eight: 3402
3) Prodrive Racing Australia: 2580
