Supercars News: Mostert wins Race 1 of Surfers Paradise GC500

Walkinshaw Andretti United driver Chaz Mostert (pictured) has claimed a memorable race win at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, which ensures he will move straight through to a spot in the Top Seven and keep his Repco Championship dream alive at the upcoming Sandown 500 semi-final.

The Mobil 1 Optus Ford Mustang driver claimed just his second win of 2025, and first since the New Zealand round in April, to leapfrog from sixth into second in the points standings behind Championship leader Broc Feeney, who finished second today.

Feeney now holds a 97-point lead over Bathurst winner Matt Payne and 106-point lead over Mostert ahead of tomorrow’s final 250km race of the weekend, and importantly is more than 150 points clear of 8th position in the points – meaning he too is through to the semi-final at Sandown next month regardless of tomorrow’s result.

The big mover of the day from the finalists was impressive rookie Kai Allen – the 20-year-old South Australian entered the round in 10th position in the standings, but has risen to 6th place – after making up nine positions on track to finish third.

It was Mostert’s 26th career race win and third victory on the streets of Surfers Paradise, his last was in 2018.

Mostert equals John Bowe, Craig Lowndes, Russell Ingall and Greg Murphy to rack up three wins on the GC, only four other drivers have recorded more race wins in the famous concrete canyon: Jamie Whincup (9) Garth Tander (8) Shane van Gisbergen (6) and Paul Radisich (5).

Today’s race was filled with drama from the get-go. Mostert’s teammate Ryan Wood started from pole position trying to keep his Championship hopes alive, but was forced to pit early with a fuel leak that crippled his chances and saw the kiwi finish in 21st position, dropping to 10th in the points standings.

The 21-year-old will be throwing all eggs into one basket to win tomorrow’s race to be any chance of staying in the Top Seven for Sandown.

There was a major incident in the tight street circuit pit lane when the bp Safety Car was on track when signage fell from a fence. Multiple cars including Mostert were caught up – including Bathurst 1000 winner Matt Payne who received a 15 second time penalty for an unsafe release.

While cars took to the famous beach chicane flying over the kerbs, Erebus youngster Cooper Murray hit a wall and destroyed his Chevrolet Camaro. The unlucky loser from that was Gold Coast raised kiwi Jaxon Evans, who had one of Murray’s wheels smash through the front of his SCT Camaro.

Mostert overtook Feeney midway through the race and never looked back, claiming a famous win for the Walkinshaw squad, and Ford’s fourth victory from the last five races on the Gold Coast since 2023.

“It’s been an up and down year, but we just found our form here right at the right time,” said Mostert.

“I’m so gutted for Ryan [Wood], he’s done a mega job all year, and then he did a mega job today in qualifying. God this sport is so brutal.

“But we got a fast car, and he can do the job tomorrow, so we’ll be riding him.”

“It definitely doesn’t feel easy, you spend half this lap in the air, and you just try to get going.

“Kudos to the guys that did that stop, and the strategy to do 60-odd laps on the tyres. I know I’m standing here in first place, but they are the heroes today, that’s a long, hard yakka out here.”

Ahead of Sunday’s final race of the GC500 Thomas Randle, Wood and Brodie Kostecki (who didn’t race today because his car suffered serious damage in qualifying) sit in the three positions that face elimination ahead of the Sandown 500.

Results: Gold Coast 500 Race 1: 85 Laps