While the windows of the race car are indeed emblazoned with the champion’s #1, Mostert’s new race suit still features the #25 he’s used since joining the team in 2020.
This is not simply a case of the team ordering its suits too early, but a request from Mostert that will also flow through to the Mobil 1 Optus merchandise range to be released this week.
It’s a quirky twist on the age-old question of whether drivers will choose to race with #1 as the reigning champion.
Although he would have preferred to keep #25 on his car too, Mostert is happy to have brought the champion’s digit back to Walkinshaw, which last sported #1 during the 2011 season.
Teammate Ryan Wood continues with the #2 that has been a staple of the Walkinshaw empire since it was adopted for Mark Skaife in 1999.
“All the champions generally run #1, but if it was up to me I’d probably be running #25,” explained Mostert.
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“But then the bigger decision is we are a team and everyone at Walkinshaw TWG Racing… there’s rich history here back to the Holden days when it was the official Holden team.
“Watching that team run #1 and #2 was something pretty symbolic, so the opportunity to not give the team what they want and go back to #25 after winning the championship just didn’t fit right.
“So we came to an agreement to run #1 this year. Still #25 at heart, but it’s so cool to see the car with #1.
“The guys and the girls in the workshop are the lucky ones that get to walk past it every day. [It] makes everyone happy back at home.”
While the team gear Mostert wears at the track won’t carry #1, a seperate range celebrating the championship victory will be made available to the public.
Among those keen to wrestle the #1 from Mostert this season will be young teammate Wood, whose Finals Series efforts were key to the 2025 championship outcome.
Wood, who contested the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy in his native New Zealand over the off-season, is eager to get the new Supercars season underway.
“I started my circuit racing career in the New Zealand Toyota 86 Series so it’s a full circle moment for me driving a Toyota GR Supra Supercar this year,” he said.
“The team have worked so hard over what we call the off season, but it definitely wasn’t an off season for them, I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of guys and girls in this team.
“Being only 22 years old and helping lead a factory team for Toyota is super exciting, it’s going to be a massive year and I’m excited to get to work.”
Mostert will steer his new Supra during Supercars parity tests at Queensland Raceway and the Bathurst 12 Hour this week before the Sydney 500 on February 20-22.
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