Supercars: Mostert predicts ‘chaos weekend’ in Tassie

Supercars star Chaz Mostert believes unpredictable weather and longer racing could throw up a “chaos weekend” at Symmons Plain as her continues to chase a maiden championship.

Chaz Mostert (right) with fellow Walkinshaw Andretti United driver Ryan Wood at Symmons Plains on Friday. Picture: Mark Horsburgh/Supercars

Supercars star Chaz Mostert hopes the Tasmania SuperSprint proves to be a “chaos weekend”. As long as he’s not front and centre of it.

The Walkinshaw Andretti United star enters the final sprint round of the year second on the standings, behind Will Brown, as he chases a maiden championship.

The 32-year-old arrived at Symmons Plains in hot form after winning both races at the most recent round, the Sydney SuperNight.

He also grabbed a win at Perth in May, and expects the move to winter for the Tasmania leg to throw up some unpredictability.

The Tasmania SuperSprint kicked into gear with the first round of practice on Friday, before the first race on Saturday.

Team 18 driver David Reynolds was fastest, with Mostert 14th after opting to focus on race runs as others turned up the pace.

David Reynolds was fastest in the first practice session of the Tasmania SuperSprint at Symmons Plains on Friday. Picture: Mark Horsburgh/Supercars

“In Tassie you don’t know whether it’s going to rain or not. Hopefully it can be dry for us so we get more out of the super soft tyre,” he said.

“When you have a bit of weather around it’s a good mix up for the weekend. Before the enduros, hopefully it’s a bit of a chaos weekend and hopefully not on my side, but it keeps people guessing and mixes up the results a little bit.”

Mostert also backed the move for longer races at Symmons Plains this year.

“We’ve got no fuel drop this weekend. I’m a big advocate for longer races, having fuel strategy and all those elements,” he said.

“The biggest thing that’s different to last year is the longer racing, which I’m excited about. “Hopefully that opens strategy up a bit more than in previous years. Qualifying will still be a massive emphasis this weekend, we’ll just see what the racing’s like.”

Symmons Plains will be Mostert’s 150th career round.

“Coming into this weekend with a lot of hype about that I just feel really old, so thanks for making me feel that way,” he joked.

“The team’s feeling good at the moment, everyone is super pumped with the results (at Sydney).

“This round is so important heading into Sandown. It’s the last hit out heading into the enduros, and that’s first enduro sets you up for the big one (Bathurst 1000).”

For Launceston youngster Lochie Dalton, the Tasmania SuperSprint will be a less stressful occasion after making his Supercars debut in Sydney.

Lochie Dalton at Symmons Plains on Friday. Picture: Mark Horsburgh/Supercars

The 21-year-old Tickford Racing driver will spend the weekend watching how Cam Waters and Thomas Randle go about their business.

“I’m in debriefs and trying to listen and learn from Cam and Thomas as much as I can,” he said.

“You can always keep learning. Your prep leading into rounds, they’re very busy weekends and you’ve got to take time to sit with your engineer and plan out your weekend.

“It’s everything really. Both those guys have been doing it for a few years now, anything they can hand off I’m grateful for.”

Dalton said he will aim to be more aggressive when he gets another chance at Supercars level.

“Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, you wish you did this or that,” he said.

“Now I’ve done it, next time I’m there I’ll be much better prepared. Now the first one’s out of the way, when I get back hopefully I show a bit more.”