CHAZ LEADS WAY
Mostert throws down gauntlet in Holden debut
CHAZ Mostert went on a season-opening Bathurst blitz to emerge as a shock contender to become the next Scott McLaughlin.
Returning to Mount Panorama 133 days after season 2020 ended with McLaughlin winning his third consecutive title, Mostert went quickest in both practice sessions to show he will be a contender for the V8 crown.
The Walkinshaw Andretti United driver delivered an early upset by beating Red Bull and Dick Johnson Racing with a double showing of speed.
“He shapes up as a real contender in 2021,” V8 legend Mark Skaife said.
“He is fit, fast and is ready for a big year. He didn’t drive the car as well as he would have liked last year, but they have made a lot of changes over the off-season.”
Skaife predicted a mouthwatering battle between Mostert and Cam Waters after the Holden driver edged his old Ford teammate in a thrilling first day serving of Supercars.
Tickford pilot Waters looked to have snared the fastest lap until Mostert replied with a chart-topping time of 2min 04.78sec.
“The prospect of Mostert versus Waters is something that has me very excited,” Skaife said.
“We all know they have a history and they could go on to become the rivals of the year.”
In a frenetic season start highlighted by a Will Brown crash, Mostert edged Waters in the first session before doing it again in the second.
Brown conceded a mistake was to blame for the first shunt of the season.
The Mount Panorama brutality continued in practice session two with the redflag waved minutes after the field left the line.
Prompting another stoppage, Macauley Jones became bogged in a sand trap after firing off the track at the Chase.
Waters posted a 2:04.79 to go to top before Mostert stole the show to set up what could be the next great rivalry.