Ford Mustang driver Chaz Mostert won the Larry Perkins Trophy at the Beaurepaires Melbourne 400, which was held as part of the 2019 Formula One Rolex Grand Prix programme at Albert Park in late March.
Driving the no. 55 Supercheap Auto Racing entry from Tickford, Mostert made the most of the four-day programme, which included four separate races each with its own qualifying session.
“The Ford Performance Mustang Supercar has had a fantastic start to the 2019 season, and we couldn’t be happier with results that show just how hard the teams and drivers are pushing,” said Ford Australia communications director, Martin Gunsberg. “The hard work that went into these cars, from both Shell V-Power Racing and Tickford Racing Australia, has shown in some great results from both teams.”
In a battle between two Mustangs up front, Mostert was the only driver to score a pole position over the four races, other than 2019 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship leader, Kiwi Scott McLaughlin, who started first in all but the final race in Sunday. Mostert also capped his Round Win with a new race lap record, backing up his new lap record at opening round in Adelaide.
“It’s been a fantastic weekend for the Supercheap Auto Mustang, to get the Larry Perkins award is pretty cool,” Mostert said.
“After coming here last year, I didn’t think we’d be a chance, but we obviously showed we’ve done a lot of work at Tickford and made the cars pretty quick. I felt we had the potential to get a trophy in Adelaide, but we just didn’t capitalise on it, so it’s fantastic to do that this weekend.”
The strong performance has lifted Mostert to third in the driver’s standings after two rounds of the 2019 Virgin Australian Supercars Championship, with Shell V-Power Racing’s Scott McLaughlin still ahead of the pack on 500 points.
After winning the first two races of the round in a dominant display, the #17 Mustang returned to form in a battle with Mostert in the fourth and final race, with McLaughlin taking his third win of the event. Despite the fast finish, McLaughlin’s effort was not enough to overhaul the points tally of Tickford Racing’s Mostert for the Larry Perkins Trophy.
“We had the fastest cars all weekend, so it’s nice to take the last win of the weekend,” McLaughlin said. “I had a fast car, and I was really having to push hard ... it was a good battle, and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year. I knew what we needed to do, and was able to execute, so it was really pleasing.”
The next round of the 2019 Virgin Australian Supercars Championship will be the Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint at Symmons Plains Raceway, held from April 5-7. Tickets can be purchased via supercars.com.au
