In a race packed with drama, strategy and wheel-to-wheel grit, Chaz Mostert emerged victorious at the ITM Taupō Super 440, defeating Brodie Kostecki in what will be remembered as a classic Supercars showdown. The win marks Mostert’s first triumph of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship, and his 25th career victory, sealing a momentous day for the Mobil 1 Optus Ford driver.
The contest, however, was far from straightforward. It took every ounce of Mostert’s 357-race experience to get the better of Kostecki, whose pole advantage was nullified at the very start after a costly wheelspin off the line. From there, the battle only intensified, showcasing the pair's tactical brilliance and raw racing instincts across the 200km race.
While the final margin of 6.4 seconds flattered Mostert, the win was hard-earned. “It was a battle for the ages,” Mostert reflected after crossing the line. “I had to throw everything at it. Kostecki didn’t make it easy.”
The result also marked the sixth different winner in as many races in what’s shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable Supercars seasons in recent memory.
Kostecki, despite the early setback, was relentless in his pursuit of the lead and at one point managed to pull off a daring pass at Turn 5. But a costly slide into the barriers at pit entry allowed Mostert to strike back just one lap later at Turn 4. From there, Mostert reasserted his authority at the front of the pack and never looked back.
Shell V-Power Racing’s Will Davison capitalised on late-race chaos to secure second place, making it an all-Ford podium alongside third-place Kostecki. Race 8 winner Matt Payne, who had earlier been slapped with a five-second penalty for jumping the start, clawed his way back to fourth.
Payne also extended his lead in the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy standings. After winning the opening race of the event, the Kiwi now holds a 33-point advantage over Mostert heading into Sunday’s finale.
The opening laps were chaotic. Feeney attempted a bold inside move after Kostecki’s poor getaway, but the #38 Mustang defended valiantly through Turn 2. Behind them, Payne’s penalty and a Turn 7 tangle between David Reynolds and Cooper Murray split the field. Though Reynolds executed a redress, no further action was taken.
Drama continued to unfold deeper in the pack. Will Brown, who came into the race as championship leader, struggled with pace and tyre life. After slipping behind Feeney, Brown soon fell prey to Payne and a hungry group that included Randle, Waters, De Pasquale and Heimgartner. In a stunning sequence, Brown was forced into an error by De Pasquale and lost multiple spots in a three-wide squeeze.
As Mostert extended his lead past three seconds, Davison carved through the midfield, passing Brown and later Feeney for third. But the real theatre was up front. After a successful undercut sequence, Kostecki emerged just ahead of Mostert – only for replays to reveal the barrier contact that turned the tide of the race.
The final phase saw Kostecki attempt one last stand. With 16 laps to go, he lunged at Turn 1 and again at Turn 4, briefly edging ahead before running wide. Mostert seized the opportunity and pushed the Mustang wide, opening up a crucial gap that would only widen to the chequered flag.
The closing laps featured more position shuffling. Payne snuck past Brown for fifth, and Kostecki's late error at Turn 1 allowed Davison and Feeney to slip through. Payne soon joined the mix and leapfrogged Feeney before the chicane on the penultimate lap.
For Mostert, who had earlier been spun in the day's first race, redemption couldn’t have come sweeter. “It’s great to get my first win in New Zealand,” he said. “After this morning, we just had to reset. I’m stoked.”
The championship picture also saw a shake-up. With Brown finishing sixth and Waters only managing 14th, Brown reclaimed the series lead by 12 points, making it three different leaders across three races. Feeney sits third, 73 points adrift.
Further back, Anton De Pasquale’s day unravelled after a botched pit stop dropped him to 20th, rounding off a tough outing for the Shell V-Power driver.
With two races now complete at Taupō, all eyes turn to Sunday’s Boost Mobile Qualifying at 10:35am NZST (8:35am AEST), which will set the grid for the final race of the weekend and potentially shake up the standings yet again.
