Perth SuperSprint
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Mostert Graduates as Winterbottom Extends
24 October 2013
Frosty signs a new deal until at least the end of 2016
Ford Pepsi Max Crew has outlined its longâ€term future with Bathurst 1000 Champion Mark Winterbottom extending his deal with the team where he will be joined from 2014 by rising star Chaz Mostert.
Winterbottom agreed terms to extend his contract with the factory Ford team prior to his Bathurst triumph and will drive for FPR until at least the end of 2016.
Mostert will contest his first full V8 Supercars Championship season in 2014 after a breakout maiden season where he has already claimed his first race win despite missing the first three events.
FPR Team Principal Tim Edwards believes the Winterbottom/Mostert duo is the ideal lineâ€up.
"Next season promises to be one of the most exciting for Ford and Pepsi Max fans everywhere with a driver pairing which is going to generate a lot of interest," Edwards said.
"Mark agreed terms prior to his Bathurst win and with an extension to our Ford deal it is the ideal scenario to have our team continue with the most successful driver in our history.
"He was already signed until the end of 2014 and the fact he wanted to recommit so early, and for so long, is a great endorsement.
"Chaz will be joining him and is here for at least the next four years which gives us two drivers that are passionate about our team and committed to winning. That should make all our fans and sponsors happy.
"He is the most exciting talent to join the series in recent times and is a product of our development program so it is personally very satisfying to see him graduate after such an impressive debut season."
Winterbottom feels his Bathurst triumph only reinforces a decision he had already taken prior to his win at Mount Panorama.
"FPR and Ford are like family and by the end of my new deal it will be 11 years as a factory driver which makes me very proud," he said.
"Winning Bathurst ticked off one of the goals we've been working towards but now we want the championship too so the stability we have with our engineering group, Ford and Pepsi Max provides the perfect platform.
"I am also really looking forward to working with Chaz. He is a great young guy and in just a few months he's shown what he can do so our fans should be really excited."
Mostert joined FPR in lateâ€2011 and after starring in the Dunlop Series he turned a late call up to customer team Dick Johnson Racing into a raceâ€winning effort.
"To be able to call myself an official Ford factory driver is truly a dream come true," the 21-year-old said.
"I may only be young but I've been working my whole career towards this.
"It's going to be cool driving alongside Frosty. He has helped me so much already and we've come through the ranks in a similar way so I am looking forward to learning as much as I can from him and the team.
"It's also cool to be working with Pepsi Max. As a young guy they are a really cool sponsor so I am looking forward to working closely with everyone there."
FPR is currently second in the Team standings heading into this weekend's Gold Coast 600 with Winterbottom third in the Driver points.
