Reigning champion Chaz Mostert has dominated Race 14 of the Repco Supercars Championship at Symmons Plains, Tasmania.
It’s been a lacklustre start to his title defence so far, but Mostert converted pole position into victory and in doing so vaulted back into Finals contention.
The Mobil 1 Optus Racing Toyota GR Supra led home David Reynolds in the Snowy River Racing Chevrolet Camaro and Shell V-Power Racing Team’s Brodie Kostecki.
Mostert’s run wasn’t easy, especially when the DEWALT Racing Camaro of Anton De Pasquale took the lead off the start at Turn 1, but it was short lived when the Mobil 1 Optus Racing Toyota slid down the inside at the penultimate corner on lap 2.
It proved a pivotal corner for De Pasquale as teammate Reynolds and Andre Heimgartner followed Mostert through to drop the DEWALT Racing driver back to fourth.
Kostecki was on the move early in the Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustang by disposing of De Pasquale and Heimgartner to give Reynolds a hard time in second.
Kostecki was successful at the hairpin by taking second off Reynolds just before the stops around the halfway mark.
Reynolds was first to pit followed by teammate De Pasquale as both changed rear tyres, with Mostert entering the lane on lap 21.
Kostecki lost ground to Reynolds and Heimgartner as the New Zealander climbed into third.
Broc Feeney and teammate Will Brown changed four tyres, with last year’s runner up making swift work on the fresh rubber.
Changes of position included Feeney into fifth ahead of De Pasquale and Kostecki also completed a move for third on Heimgartner.
After the pit stops were completed, Mostert held a 4s lead from Reynolds, a closing Kostecki, Heimgartner and a charging Feeney.
Heimgartner was relegated to fifth as Feeney soon caught the duelling Kostecki and Reynolds.
In the end, Mostert crossed the line 5.3s clear of Reynolds, Kostecki, Feeney and Heimgartner.
De Pasquale led the next pack from Brad Jones Racing’s Cam Hill, Matt Payne of Penrite Racing, Brown and PremiAir Racing rookie Jayden Ojeda in 10th.
The second Penrite Racing Mustang of Kai Allen received a 15-second penalty after contact spun Aaron Cameron leading to a 19th place finish.
Race 15 of the Tasmanian Super440 is due to start at 4pm AEST marking the 100th at Symmons Plains.