Don’t ask Chaz Mostert to break a leg at this weekend’s Bathurst 1000.
He is way ahead of you.
But the Ford young gun reckons he has already exorcised his Mount Panorama demons following last year’s horrific early qualifying crash, ahead of Sunday’s Great Race.
Mostert spectacularly wiped out on Forrest’s Elbow last year just minutes into the Bathurst qualifying session, breaking his leg – and his 2015 championship hopes.
Mostert was airlifted to nearby Orange hospital after the traumatic accident which left the Supercars faithful gasping as he bounced from wall to wall and dramatically crashed through a marshal’s post before landing with what was left of his Falcon on the Mount Panorama track.
Yet Mostert reckoned he had no emotional baggage as he prepared for his Bathurst 1000 return.
In fact, the Ford gun believed he was already at peace with the mountain after claiming victory in the Bathurst Six Hour enduro in a BMW earlier this year with co-driver Nathan Morcom.
“I’m super pumped to get to Bathurst again,” Mostert said.
“Obviously after last year I’m going to try and redeem myself for this year.”
Mostert appears out of title contention, reeling 491 points behind new series leader, Holden’s Shane van Gisbergen before the 56th Great Race.
Yet the 24-year-old is daring to dream of a second Bathurst title after sensationally claiming the 2014 crown.
“We’ve had pretty good top five form for the last couple of rounds so we want to try and keep that going at Bathurst, keep bringing this car along and keep trying to keep the momentum rolling,” said Mostert, who will combine with co-driver Steve Owen at Bathurst.
“You never know.
“You’ve got to be there for the last 40 laps at Bathurst but this year I’d just like to try and get to the race – we’ll see how we go.”
Owen believed the omens were good after they combined for a fifth place finish at the recent opening enduro, the Sandown 500.
“I think we had a tough time at Sandown and still nearly finished on the podium so I think that’s a pretty good indication that the speed’s there but we just need a few things to go our way and we should be alright,” Owen said.
“Chaz showed at Clipsal (Adelaide first round) this year that the crash didn’t affect him in any way, shape or form so I know his speed is still there and that he’s keener than anyone to make amends for last year and hopefully we can do it.
“I’ve finished second at Bathurst a couple of times now so we’re not going there to finish second – we’re going there to win.
“I think we’ve got the right ingredients to get the job done.”
Practice for Sunday’s Bathurst 1000 starts on Thursday.
