The maiden Supercars season to function a Finals system over-delivered on one factor it was anticipated to offer: a whole lot of speaking factors.
Whilst Chaz Mostert and the Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford workforce celebrated their drivers’ title victory in Adelaide, debate was raging about whether or not it was a good outcome from a flawed system.
How Mostert and WAU gained revealed one thing that few might need considered at the beginning of the 2025 marketing campaign, however what was hiding in plain sight on a regular basis – successful races within the ‘common’ season is all properly and good, but it means little as soon as the going will get critical.
Mostert and the workforce got here into the 12 months with what is perhaps described as a crafty plan “There have been two components that made our 12 months,” a cheerful Mostert stated in Adelaide.
“[At] spherical 1, we stated, ‘proper, we wish to be there within the Finals, we wish to attempt to win the championship. That is how we’re going to strategy the 12 months; we’re going to strive issues that we essentially don’t’…”
Crew co-owner Ryan Walkinshaw defined the idea additional: “We spent all season focusing, simply not making an attempt to be competing within the finals, sacrificing so many rounds simply so he may try to be taught what we have to be taught for these final three rounds.”
Chaz Mostert, Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang GT
Picture by: Edge Photographics
On the different finish of the dimensions, Triple Eight performed a extra typical innings. It took a couple of rounds for Broc Feeney to seek out his kind, however as soon as he did he went on a successful spree. In a 15-race run that encompassed rounds 4 and eight (the tip of the Dash Collection), Feeney took 11 victories.
However, by that time of the season, Mostert had gained simply as soon as. Feeney had a complete spherical’s factors in hand over his closest pursuer, whereas Grove Racing’s Matt Payne and Mostert have been two full rounds behind.
That, and the engine failure that ended Mostert’s probabilities of successful the Bathurst 1000, would have doomed him to a top-six championship outcome at greatest in another season. However the inconsistent kind that Mostert, WAU team-mate Ryan Wooden and the workforce displayed truly had a objective; the squad was making an attempt out new set-ups and, as long as its drivers remained in competition to make the highest 10 Finalists, it was pleased to maintain doing so.
“In all probability the best way we ‘examined’ throughout race weekends was most likely the most effective decide of truth,” stated Mostert. “The 24 different rivals [are] right here and there’s no hiding if the automotive is sweet or unhealthy.
“As soon as we received to the Finals collection you guys [the media] didn’t speak about us as soon as, the #25 automotive, and also you should not [have], as a result of we have been so up and down. One weekend we have been on the rostrum, one weekend we weren’t.
“That was onerous work. Numerous soul-searching and a whole lot of doubt as properly, doing that. However I have to say, these final three rounds, I don’t know what our common ending place was however absolutely it needed to be, high three, high 4. Even once I barried it up in qualifying, in twelfth, the automotive was nonetheless superior, it was unbelievable.”
Chaz Mostert, Walkinshaw Andretti United, Ryan Wooden, Walkinshaw Andretti United
Picture by: Edge Photographics
That was when Mostert confirmed his greatest kind.
He reeled off three straight wins, two on the streets of the Gold Coast and one other at Sandown, adopted by a fourth place. Three second locations, one from the aforementioned twelfth on the grid, delivered Mostert his first title with room to spare.
Feeney maintained his factors lead, however had his title hopes evaporate when his Chevrolet Camaro had an engine misfire within the last two races of the 12 months in Adelaide. Whereas he was coping with the frustration of shedding a title he would have gained in a canter in another 12 months, the subsequent day he referred to as Mostert “a deserving champion”.
“The run that he went on on this Finals Collection is one thing that he needs to be actually happy with,” Feeney stated. “He is an ideal function mannequin for the game. He’s incredible with the followers, with all of the drivers. He’s all the time been nice to me. I actually wish to congratulate him on what’s a incredible championship.”
There might be a whole lot of followers criticising the brand new Finals system. Few would argue that Mostert doesn’t deserve a title, however the circumstances underneath which it performed out might be talked about for a while…
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