Title in dispute as pair dream

THEY’RE the Supercars championship outsiders but Chaz Mostert and Shane van Gisbergen have their eyes firmly on the prize heading into next month’s penultimate event in New Zealand.

Sunday’s 300km Supercars race on the Gold Coast has left the top five drivers in this year’s standings separated by 189-points with six-time champion Jamie Whincup (2580) the new leader.

Ford pair Fabian Coulthard (2563) and Scott McLaughlin (2553) round out the top three before Mostert (2454) and defending champion van Gisbergen (2391).

It means they’ve got the most ground to make up but after a successful endurance period which ended with him and co-driver Steve Owen claiming this year’s Endurance Cup, Mostert is aiming for more silverware.

“You’ve got to take each race as it comes, try to put your best foot forward, try to get champagne and get trophies,” the Prodrive Racing Australia star said.

“This year has been a little up and down but it’s certainly been a big turnaround from last year.

“We’re definitely a bit further back than what we’d like to be going into the last two sprint rounds ... we’ll get to Sunday night at Newcastle someone will be holding the cup and the other four are thinking about how they can try to get on top of them next year.”

Van Gisbergen’s third-place finish on Sunday came after his first pole position since the opening round in Adelaide.

The Kiwi has won two races at his hometown circuit in the past and it’s a circuit the Red Bull Holden Racing Team has dominated in recent years.

Van Gisbergen admits defending his championship is unlikely from fifth but says the formula is simple from here.

“Just want to have a good round at Pukekohe, love racing there, stay at home, mum’s cooking – it doesn’t get any better,” he said.

The Auckland SuperSprint begins on November 3.