CHAZ RISES ABOVE CHAOS
Mostert nabs Darwin Supercars opener as pile-up bill looms at $250k
SUPERCARS teams are facing a damage bill that could reach $250,000 after a six-car pile-up broke cars and shattered dreams.
In a stunning start to the race that Chaz Mostert survived to win, Hidden Valley Raceway was left strewn with twisted metal after six cars were taken out in a lap-one smash-up.
Prompting a race-stopping red-flag and setting emergency workers into scurry, Anton De Pasquale was sent into a horrifying spin after being battered from behind while locked in a fight for first.
Out of control and facing the wrong way, the DJR star was battered by the oncoming traffic as his dream of winning the Darwin Triple crown took a battering.
And so did his car. De Pasquale’s flying Ford suffered both front and back
end damage following the carnage that was blamed on Scott Pye.
The incident has left DJR – and the other teams caught up in the turn one smash – in a race against the clock to return their car to the grid for race two on Sunday.
DJR were yet to assess the full extent of the damage but were hopeful of returning the mashed-up Mustang to the grid.
The lap one chaos set the tone for a frenetic race that saw a pit lane penalty overturned and tyre pressures investigated. The drama continued when a pit-lane shocker floored Shane van Gisbergen before Mostert powered his way home to put Walkinshaw Andretti United back on the map.
“I was just hoping to get through turn one to be honest,” Mostert said.
“And I didn’t just get through, I ended up in P3. It was only then that I knew I was in the race. Shane was looking good but I don’t know what happened to him.
“I ended up having a good race car and full credit goes to the team.
“We may have had a bit of luck but you have to take them when you get them because I have been on the wrong end too many times.”
Mostert’s win was overshadowed by the crash that sparked a spare parts scramble from race teams. Starting from second, Mark Winterbottom was left fuming after his race finished a few seconds after his start.
“This sport gives me the shits sometimes,” Winterbottom said. “It’s cruel. It’s just shit. I don’t know what to say. We got ourselves into such a good position and then that happened. But that’s racing. We will just fight on.”
The controversy continued post race when Brodie Kostecki was penalised for short cutting the circuit.
Nick Percat was also bracing himself for a penalty with officials launching an investigation into his tyre pressures.
Percat, who finished third behind Mostert and Cameron Waters, was adamant he should not be stripped of his podium finish.
“I felt like as a driver I did my bit,” Percat said.
“I took a straight car home. It would be hard to take if they took the result away.
“I didn’t do anything wrong from the driver’s seat for the entire race.
“I raced hard and fair so it would be gut wrenching, not just for myself but everyone in the team.
“It is hard enough as it is and hopefully I will be able to keep my trophy.”
Percat admitted to his error after the race and made a personal apology to De Pasquale.