Mozzie, Mozzie, Mozzie In TCR
No-one could stop Chaz Mostert’s runaway rampage through the SuperCheap Auto TCR Australia Series races at Bathurst.
After back-to-back victories on Easter Saturday, Mostert did it again on Sunday morning in the lead-up to the Bathurst 6-Hour enduro with his Audi RS3.
Aaron Cameron again used the launch control on his Peugeot 308 to beat Mostert off the line, but his rival was soon on the attack and made easy work of another win despite two Safety Car periods.
Eventually Cameron was forced to defend against Jordan Cox in an Alfa Giulietta, who mounted a late charge after a totally lacklustre Saturday.
“It was a ball. I’ve had a lot of fun this weekend,” Mostert told Race News as he collected another trophy.
“It’s fun to drive the car around here at Bathurst. And a clean sweep.”
Cameron went 2-2-2 for Easter but admitted there was nothing he could do to stop Mostert.
“I knew he would be the one to beat. And Chaz had us covered all weekend,” he said.
“He’s really motoring over the top of the Mountain so he’s improved through the weekend.”
For Cox, who upset the Saturday podium places at the expense of Garth Tander, time ran out.
“We had the pace to win, I think. But we started from the back of the grid after qualifying,” he said.
“We were pretty confident of a top three, so it was exciting and fun.”
Victory on Sunday means Mostert has now won five of his last six starts and has a commanding lead in the TCR Series championship, with most drivers now concentrating on the battle for second.
“We’re hoping to hang onto second,” said Luke King, who was only 13th in the finale after major brake troubles and slipped behind Cameron in the standings.
Tander was surprisingly quiet in the last race in his Audi RS3, with no answer for Cox and forced to mount a defence against John Martin in the quickest of the Honda Type Rs.
“I felt like we maximised the package. The car was really good. We just didn’t have the straight-line speed,” said Martin.
Thing were not good for Tony D’Alberto, who was shouldered aside by Michael Clemente at Hell Corner and finished in the gravel trap. He was eventually towed out but trailed around at the back of the field with broken bodywork banging on the ground.
“A shit weekend, all round,” said D’Alberto.
It was much the same for the Hyundai contingent, who completely lacked straight-line speed all weekend. Brad Shiels was the best of the bunch in Race 3, but was still only seventh and was easily out-paced by James Moffat who romped past him in his Renault Megane.
SUPERCHEAP AUTO TCR AUSTRALIA SERIES
SUNDAY – Race 3:
- Chaz Mostert, Audi RS3; 2. Aaron Cameron, Peugeot 308; 3. Jordan Cox, Alfa Giulietta; 4. Garth Tander, Audi RS3; 5. John Martin, Honda Type R; 6. James Moffat, Renault Megane; 7. Brad Shiels, Hyundai i30 N; 8. Jason Bargwanna, Peugeot 308; 9. Nathan Morcom, Hyundai i30 N; 10. Josh Buchan, Hyundai i30N.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS:
- Chaz Mostert, 344; 2. Aaron Cameron, 281; 3. Luke King, 266; 4. John Martin, 256; 5. Lee Holdsworth, 245; 6. Jordan Cox, 240; 7. Jason Bargwanna, 222; 8. Nathan Morcom, 221; 9. Brad Shiels, 211; 10. Josh Buchan, 210.
