Chaz Mostert talks Bathurst and beyond

With the Bathurst 1000 fast approaching we caught up with Mobil 1 Optus Racing driver and Supercars fan favourite, Chaz Mostert to found find out a bit more the big race.

Q. What makes Bathurst 1000 so iconic for fans/drivers and what makes it special for you and the WAU team?

Chaz - It’s hard to put into words what makes Bathurst so special as there’s so many different aspects which makes it stand out from the rest of the rounds we go to. In recent years the field has become so much more competitive. During the race we are doing qualifying laps every lap just to keep stay in the game. I think that makes it really exciting for both drivers and fans because we are pushing ourselves to the absolute limit so the smallest mistake can have a massive consequence.

You also can’t go past the atmosphere - the turn out from the fans is incredible and their passion is like nothing else. There is only one track I have been to where I can hear the crowd over the sound of the engine and that is at the top of The Mountain.

Q. What makes it such a challenging race? How does it compare with other tracks in the Supercars calendar?

Chaz - Bathurst is a tricky track. There are so many different elevation changes with tight corners surrounded by concrete walls. One small mistake and you’re eating a concrete sandwich for lunch! You must be fully focused for every second of every lap, which is tough for 1000kms.  Bathurst doesn’t compare to any other tracks in the Supercars calendar, it is its own beast, and you never know what could happen. It’s all up to the Bathurst Gods!

Q. In 2023 you and Lee just missed the podium at Bathurst, how do you bounce back and what did you learn last year to help you prepare this year?

Chaz - Last year’s Bathurst result was a tough pill to swallow; we were so close but so far! It has only made Lee and I hungrier for a better result this year. There were lots of lessons learnt that we have refined across this year to make sure we come back stronger. Lee and I have been in constant contact in the lead up to and during enduro season, the Bathurst Gods throw so many curve balls at you, so we want to be prepared for absolutely anything.

Q. How important is preparation for a Supercars race – mental and physical?

Chaz - It’s important to be mentally and physically prepared before a race, especially the Bathurst 1000 -, it’s such a tough track and really demanding on the body. For me, I don’t like to put any additional pressure on myself before Bathurst, that helps me stay in a good headspace. In terms of physical preparation, I spend a lot of time on the bike working up my endurance fitness, it’s a great way for me to catch up with friends too.

Q. What’s it really like inside the cockpit of a race car? What are the physical sensations – is it extremely hot, cramped, noisy? What are the G forces you need to deal with? How do you deal with those factors without it interfering in your concentration and performance?

Chaz - We can get up to 300km/h down Conrod straight - it honestly doesn’t feel like we are going any faster than the freeway until we start braking, that’s when you really feel the magnitude of the speed we are going at. Inside, the cockpit can get hot during certain rounds such as Darwin, Perth, or Adelaide - it can be up to 20 degrees hotter inside the car than the outside temperature. We have cooling suits we can wear to help keep our body temperature down to make sure we are as comfortable as possible in the car. We also wear noise cancelling ear plugs, which removes cabin noise. This also allows us to listen clearly to what our engineers are saying, although sometimes we wish we couldn’t hear them - only joking, Scaff!

Q. What do you think are the keys to success in Supercars?

Chaz - Supercars is one of the most competitive categories in the world. The guys we are racing against are at the top of their game, so I would have to say the key to success is consistency. Being able to constantly be quick across each race weekend is important but on top of that when you are having a bad race weekend it’s just as important to maximise on those weekends too.

Q. What are your 2024 season highlights so far and what have you learnt along the way?

Chaz - Well, I can’t go pasts Perth, that was awesome locking out the front row with Woody and the atmosphere in the garage was indescribable. To then convert that pole position into a first race win as a team in a Ford Mustang was special. We all worked as a team that day and it proved what Walkinshaw Andretti Untied are capable of. Off track, it would have to be meeting and hanging out with Mikey through the Mozzie’s biggest fan competition supported by Optus. He was my good luck charm ins Sydney for sure, I hope he’ll bring his good luck to Bathurst.

Q. You’ll be returning in 2025 with teammate Ryan Wood who started out with you for the first time, this year. How has your partnership gone? What has made you a successful team?

Chaz - Woody brings out the youth in me, we have a lot of fun both at and away from the track. We have really bounced off each other well this year, he’s very quick so that’s been pushing me to be better on track as well. We both have the same goal, being able to work together with the whole team to achieve that goal is really rewarding.

Q.  How would your friends describe your driving style off the track?

Chaz - When I am with my friends, I prefer to be the in-car DJ making sure everyone is having a  great time. Unless I am with Woody, he falls asleep on every car ride, so I make sure I drive as smoothly as possible, so I don’t wake him up.

Q. Last year during the Bathurst 1000, you surprised the crowd with a bright pink mullet for breast cancer research. Have you got something planned for this year's event?

Chaz - I’m a dad now, celebrating some pretty special milestones. I’ll be keeping my hair my natural colour this year as I can’t have my daughter looking back at old pictures with her dad having colourful mullets!

Find out about the new-look Mobil Optus Racing No 25 Ford Performance Mustang.

Also see our Bathurst 1000 trackside report 2024.