THREE Repco Supercars Championship drivers have been granted exemptions from wearing Boost Mobile-branded category hats.
‘Hatgate’ took off after Broc Feeney did not wear a Boost hat upon taking pole position for the Sunday race at last month’s Bathurst 500, leading to a rule tweak to better enforce the protocol.
Boost has come onboard this year as Supercars’ qualifying sponsor, upping the prize pool to $100,000.
Chaz Mostert raised eyebrows this morning by not wearing a Boost hat after soaring to pole position for tomorrow’s Albert Park finale.
However, V8 Sleuth has learnt that shunning was in fact above board, with Mostert one of three drivers permitted to go hatless in post-pole position interviews.
The others are Broc Feeney and David Reynolds, with all being on the grounds of having conflicting sponsorships.
Mostert’s Walkinshaw Andretti United Mustang is sponsored by Optus, while Feeney and Reynolds have personal deals with Vodafone.
The Boost hat was a topic on Thursday at Albert Park too, in the form of some Cam Waters banter after taking pole position for Race 2 of the weekend.
“I just want to put my Boost hat on… a lot of conjecture around the hat. I’ll happily wear it and get the cheque,” said Waters.
In-form Grove Racing young gun Matt Payne will start from pole for Supercars’ Saturday race starting at 5:40pm AEDT.
