Mostert deal frenzy

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 OF all the Supercars drivers coming off contract this year, Chaz Mostert’s future has attracted the most attention.

Walkinshaw Andretti United is the latest team linked to the Tickford Racing top gun, but the 27-year-old Bathurst champion says he won’t make a decision until the end of the year.

“I am in no hurry,’’ Mostert said. “Right now I am just taking each race as it comes and keeping my feet on the ground. I’ll work out what I am going to do in a few months and when I have decided I will let everyone know.’’

Considered by many in the sport to be one of the most talented drivers on the grid, Mostert was earlier this year reportedly on the radar of runaway championship leader DJR/Team Penske.

Originally there was speculation he could be Scott McLaughlin’s new teammate at the Ford Mustang team given Fabian Coulthard is off contract. But with talk McLaughlin is considering a move to the US to pursue a Nascar or IndyCar career, they may be lining him up as the Kiwi’s replacement.

Mostert was spotted at DJR/ Team Penske headquarters in Brisbane earlier this year, but denied the visit was about a future deal.

“The chat is never-ending,’’ Mostert said. “Right now I am just sitting back waiting. Teams are working out whether they have people or not and the media is just looking at teams with drivers coming off and jumping to conclusions.

“I am not the first driver to be coming off contract and not the first to have speculation about what he is doing the following year.’’

At Walkinshaw Andretti United, both James Courtney and Scott Pye are off contract at the end of the year and it was reported this week that the team has sounded out Mostert as a big-money replacement.

Mostert would confirm that he has been talking about his future with Tickford Racing.

“I have definitely had chats with my own team,’’ Mostert said. “I have been there for a long time and I have had a great association with them from the start.”