A LATE change to the Repco Bathurst 1000 event schedule has given Chaz Mostert a shot at securing the TCR Australia Series title.
Mostert holds a 106-point lead in the TCR standings after four rounds with a total of 142 points on offer across the three-race Bathurst decider.
He was though set to miss the finale due to his commitments with Walkinshaw Andretti United, as all three TCR races were scheduled for the same days as Supercars practice and qualifying.
UPDATED: 2021 Repco Bathurst 1000 event schedule
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However, the opening TCR race has now been moved from Thursday morning to Wednesday afternoon, giving Mostert the opportunity to take part.
V8 Sleuth understands that Mostert will only contest the opening race in order to clinch the title, before concentrating on his Supercars duties.
Mostert can secure the title if he holds a lead of 90 points or more after Race 1 of the Bathurst weekend.
A revised points structure for Bathurst means there are 50 points on the line in Races 1 and 3, 40 for the reverse top 10 grid Race 2, and two for pole position.
Races 2 and 3 are to be held on Friday and Saturday respectively, with no TCR action on Thursday.
Mostert, who won all three TCR races at Mount Panorama during the Easter round at the Bathurst 6 Hour, is among five drivers who are still in mathematical contention.
His tally of 452 points is trailed by MPC Audi teammate Luke King (346 points), Hyundai pair Josh Buchan (335 points) and Nathan Morcom (327 points) and GRM Peugeot driver Aaron Cameron (321 points).
TCR regulars Lee Holdsworth and Tony D’Alberto are set to be absent from the round entirely to focus on their Bathurst 1000 co-driving roles with Mostert and Anton De Pasquale respectively.
Although double-duties at Bathurst have not been uncommon in the past, switching between left-hand-drive, front-wheel-drive TCR cars and Supercars machinery is seen as unhelpful.
A field of 18 TCR cars will start the Bathurst weekend, including German ace Chris Mies, who will steer Audis in the TCR and Australian GT races.
Mies will be Yasser Shahin’s co-driver in the latter event as Garth Tander focuses on defending the Bathurst 1000 crown he won alongside Shane van Gisbergen last October.
