Chaz Mostert to contest inaugural Bathurst 6 Hour

WHEN the drivers' entry list for the inaugural Bathurst 6 Hour was released today there were plenty of names which are well know by motor sport fans, but one which did not appear was V8 Supercars star Chaz Mostert.

In what is a massive a coup for the Production Touring Car race, Ford star and 2014 Bathurst 1000 winner Mostert will join Nathan Morcom in a BMW 335i E92.

"Nathan Morcom and I have been friends for a lot of years, we used to race with each other in support categories and I have actually driven this car before, in 2011 we did a six hour at Eastern Creek," Mostert said.

"When I heard they were doing the six hour, I was like 'Yeah, it would be bloody good to have a crack.'

"It is just a cool weekend to be there racing the BMW at Bathurst."

The Bathurst 6 Hour, which will be contested on March 27, will mark Mostert's first race at Mount Panorama since his horrific crash at the circuit during Bathurst 1000 qualifying.

Mostert clipped the concrete wall at the entry of The Esses while travelling at 170km/hr and the 23-year-old's Falcon was flung across the track.

It rode up on a barrier and got airborne before finally coming to a halt, the incident seeing Mostert airlifted to Orange hospital with a broken left femur and wrist.

The injuries were so severe Mostert required surgery and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

After an almost five-month absence, he made his return to V8 Supercars in the 2016 season opening Clipsal 500 and managed a podium finish in the second race of that weekend.

Mostert said he felt fine after that round and is keen to put any gremlins the Bathurst track may still hold for him to rest in the 6 Hour.

"There were no dramas from my end after Clipsal, the body held up really good," Mostert said.

"I still have a limp, but that is more of a mental thing.

"Any time you drive around Bathurst is a good time, but coming back after that big crash last year is a good opportunity to get there and sort out any mental demons I might still have ahead of the 1000."

Before Mostert burst onto the V8 Supercars scene in 2013 for Dick Johnson Racing, he began his career in karting and the Australian Formula Ford series.

Though his experience with Production Touring Car racing is limited, Mostert said there is not much adjustment required in switching from his Ford Falcon FGX V8 Supercar to the BMW.

"I haven't done too much Prod Car racing before, I drove a Holden Astra in the 12 Hour a number of years ago," he said.

"This will be the third time I have driven this car [BMW], I've driven it at Phillip Island and at Eastern Creek. It is one of those cars that is really nice to drive, you really don't have to spend long in the seat to adjust, it's like second nature.

"It is not as fast as the V8, but it is still a hoot.

"Most people are going to go on a holiday over Easter, so it's going to be pretty cool to do your passion at Bathurst."

Mostert's presence in the 6 Hour will also be a boost for the Bathurst Motor Festival as a whole. The Supercheap Auto Racing young gun is keen to meet a host of new motor sport fans.

"I hope a lot of people will turn up for it. It's not as big as the Supercars being there, but it's still a good event and hopefully we get a good crowd," he said.

"The fans can come up and have their photo taken with me - I am really looking forward to it."