Chaz Mostert to go back to 1999 colours for the ‘500 …
STORY: AARON NOONAN
IMAGES: SUPPLIED, PRODRIVE RACING AUSTRALIA
FOR the second year in a row Supercheap Auto Racing will recognise its history in Supercars racing at the Wilson Security Sandown 500.
This time around the team’s Prodrive Racing Australia-run #55 Falcon FG X will carry the 1999 Supercheap Auto colours as carried by John Briggs and Bob Thorn during the 1999 Shell Championship Series.
Mostert’s current car and the original Supercheap Auto Falcon EL now owned by Keith Linnell – driven by Briggs in 1998 and in early ’99 before being turned over to then SCA MD Bob Thorn for the remainder of that season – got together today for a special photo shoot unveiling the new look for the 2014 Bathurst winner.
Mostert will share the #55 Fordwith Steve Owen, who won the Sandown 500 in 2015 with Mark Winterbottom and finished fifth in last year’s race sharing with Mostert.
The livery was chosen via fan vote on social media over other Supercheap Auto Racing schemes raced by Russell Ingall and Greg Murphy during their time representing the automotive retail brand.
Mostert, currently fifth in the points standings, likes the chance to pay tribute to the history of the sport and that of Supercheap Auto.
“Retro round is a great concept and it is nice to be able to recognise a bit of Supercheap Auto’s 20-year history in the sport this weekend at the Sandown 500,” Mostert said.
“We ran one of their retro liveries last year which was a lot of fun and got a great fan response so hopefully the fans really like what we’ve got this year.
“John Briggs played a big role in Supercheap Auto’s entry to the sport so hopefully we can do him proud.
“John’s original car has been restored and it is great that it is still around. I had the chance to check it out and while 1999 isn’t that long ago for a lot of fans, I couldn’t get over how much Supercars have developed.
“You can tell it is a Supercar but it looks ancient when you compare it to the Prodrive Racing FG X Falcon I drive today.
“The technology has come a long way, as have the materials we use to build the car and of course the safety we have has advanced significantly.”
Practice for the Wilson Security Sandown 500 begins on Friday in Melbourne.
