Team search for Mostert V8 replacement

Instead of a fitting tribute, injured V8 Supercars star Chaz Mostert’s Ford team are now seeking a fitting replacement.

Hard marking Prodrive Racing team boss Tim Edwards believed they let Mostert down after failing to claim Bathurst 1000 pole as promised for their injured star on Saturday.

Prodrive Racing are on the lookout for another driver this year after Mostert was officially ruled out for the rest of the season in the wake of his horror Bathurst 1000 qualifying crash.

Prodrive Racing’s V8 series leader Mark Winterbottom had made no secret of their desire to claim Bathurst 1000 pole as a nod to their out of action young gun.

Edwards reckoned Mostert would have been “angry” that they could not pull it off.

Winterbottom was caught out by rain along with a number of V8 stars in the opening qualifying session which was postponed until Saturday by Mostert’s crash.

He was 14th on the timesheets when the heavens opened, sabotaging any hope of a fast time.

As a result, Winterbottom failed to make Saturday’s shootout to determine the top 10 grid spots – including pole.

“We went out there at the right time and the right tyre but we couldn’t get it done,” Edwards said.

“He (Mostert) will be angry with us now because we didn’t do what we said we would do and get pole.”

Mostert underwent surgery at Orange hospital on Saturday to insert a rod into his broken leg.

He also broke his wrist in the spectacular crash which injured three track-side officials.

“He won’t be back in the car this year but I’m pretty confident that he should be right for Clipsal (opening round in Adelaide) next year,” V8 Supercars doctor Carl Le told Fox Sports TV.

Prodrive Racing are already searching for Mostert’s replacement as they are required to contest the remaining 12 races.

They must also find a co-driver for Cameron Waters for the next round, the Gold Coast 600 enduro, which is within a fortnight.

Waters was Mostert’s Bathurst 1000 co-driver.

Meanwhile, Mostert revealed he feared most for the race officials forced to jump for their lives in the aftermath of his crash.

The defending Bathurst 1000 champion blamed sun glare for throwing him off his racing line before his Ford pinballed off walls approaching Forrest’s Elbow at up to 170kph.

It was his second shock crash in three years at Mount Panorama.

“My biggest fear was for the safety of the marshals but to hear none were seriously injured is a big relief,” Mostert said in a team statement.

“I’m really sorry for the team as it was my error that put us out and also destroyed a car.

“I just lost my racing line due to a bit of sun glare and glanced the wall.

“From there I was a passenger and took some pretty big hits.”

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