Mostert’s hot run at the Gold Coast was the perfect response to a disappointing Bathurst 1000, when his Walkinshaw-Andretti Ford broke down mid-race.
As he trudged back to the pits, a fan offered him a beer and the renowned larrikin immediately cracked it and took a swig, in a moment that went viral.
Chaz Mostert’s Ford Mustang on the way to his win on the Gold Coast.Credit: Getty Images
The biggest name to bow out of the finals race was 2023 series champion Brodie Kostecki. Others stars who have been eliminated include Kiwi tyro Ryan Wood and Anton De Pasquale.
Feeney, who clinched pole position on Sunday morning, again finished runner-up to Mostert. Andre Heimgartner placed third.
Kostecki, the 2023 Supercars series champion, endured a tough few days on the Gold Coast.
He crashed during Friday’s practice session and then again during the qualifying session on Saturday, when he hit a crash barrier head-on barrier and left four photographers with injuries that required hospital treatment.
That collision forced his mangled Mustang out of Saturday’s race, as his team Dick Johnson Racing worked across the night to repair it for Sunday.
Kostecki was back on track for the top-10 shootout, but was disappointed to qualify 14th. He actually posted the fastest time through the first sector, only for the lap to be nullified over a technical infringement.
Drivers started Sunday’s race with one eye on the skies, amid forecasts of rain. The most recent Supercars event, the Bathurst 1000, was contested in crazy, chaotic circumstances after the track was transformed by a mid-race drenching.
As it panned out, the rain stayed away, to the relief of spectators. An estimated crowd of 170,000 attended across the three days.
Gutsy photographer back on track
Battered photographer James Baxter insisted it was business as usual at the Gold Coast 500 on Sunday, a day after he and three colleagues were injured when Supercars star Brodie Kostecki slammed into a crash barrier.
Photographer James Baxter, who returned to work after being injured in a Supercars crash on Saturday.Credit: Robert Dillon
The terrifying incident occurred when Kostecki, the 2023 Supercars series champion, lost control of his Ford Mustang trying to negotiate the opening chicane during Saturday’s qualifying session.
The car slammed into the barrier – a concrete wall and heavy-duty metal cage wrapped in a protective layer of car tyres – and scattered a group of photographers who were positioned at the vantage point.
“It’s not unusual for them to be coming straight at you,” said Baxter, a veteran motorsport photographer.
“It’s unusual when they don’t stop. So once he’d gone past the sausage curb, we knew something was pretty wrong. But a car going at something close to 200km an hour, you don’t have a lot of time to get out of the way, really.”
Supercars star Brodie Kostecki collided into the wall at flying speed during qualifying. Credit: Fox Sports screen grab
After the shock of the initial impact, Baxter realised he had injuries. Unfortunately, he was not the only casualty.
“I had about a 10-cent-piece-sized puncture wound that went three centimetres deep into my left arm, barely missing my elbow joint,” he said.
“So I was very, very lucky because that would have been a very nasty break. So they stitched me up real deep, and also my right arm’s a bit sore. It’ll need a lot of physio, but that’s all right.
“I came out the best out of everybody, so I’m very grateful.”
While Baxter was back at the track on Sunday, three other photographers were not as fortunate. Supercars officials were contacted on Sunday for an update on the condition of all injured photographers.
“I came straight from the hospital back here [to the track] yesterday, so I’m not deterred at all,” Baxter said.
“It’s what I love. I’m very lucky to have found a living in my life where I love every single moment of it, even when I’m hurt. So, yeah, no place I’d rather be today.”
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His thoughts were with his colleagues.
“I’d much rather the focus be on them and their recovery than me personally,” he said.
“I’m very lucky to get to be walking around today and having a good time, whereas I know the others are all pretty much laid up in bed from what I hear.
“Someone was looking out for me yesterday, for sure.”
Kostecki said after the crash: “I am physically good but hope the people behind the barrier are OK, because there is some news that some were injured.”
Supercars issued a statement on Saturday confirming that access to the area where the crash happened had been restricted, and thanked volunteers, officials and medical staff for “their swift and professional response”.
The Herald’s visit to the Gold Coast 500 was funded by Supercars Australia.
