A trio of Australian racing stars have come together to unite a formidable driver lineup at one of the most iconic venues in motorsport. Kenny Habul, Chaz Mostert, and Will Power are sharing the 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS, showcasing a world-class combination of experience, versatility, and national pride that has drawn attention throughout the paddock and made headlines.
For Habul, the long-time SRO competitor and previous Intercontinental GT Challenge Bronze Drivers’ champion, racing at the Brickyard carries special meaning.
“I love it,” said Habul. “I’ve been coming here for years, and I really enjoy this track. There aren’t many high-speed corners, but it’s technical, it’s fun, and it’s a beautiful facility. The history here is incredible. You feel it the moment you drive through the gates. I just love everything about this place.”
This year’s lineup came together through both circumstance and longtime friendship. Habul and Power were rivals in Formula Ford and Formula 3 back in the late 1990s, while Habul and Mostert have shared a car in multiple endurance events in recent seasons.
For two-time IndyCar Series champion Will Power, the Indianapolis 8 Hour marks his first major foray into GT3 competition, and fittingly, it’s at a venue where he’s already cemented his legacy by winning the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500, in addition to accumulating further achievements on the road course format as well.
“I’ve spent a lot of time at this place and had a lot of success too,” stated Power. “I love being here. I’ve wanted to drive something different for a while, and to be able to do it here is even better. It’s a new discipline I’ve had to learn, and I’m really enjoying it. It’s been a lot of fun this weekend.”
The shift from single-seaters to GT3 machinery has come with its own learning curve, but one he’s embraced with a great deal of enthusiasm.
“I’ve done so many laps around here in IndyCar, but GT cars are very good here too. The braking and performance you get out of a heavy car like this are amazing. It’s got great downforce and horsepower,” Power explained.
“Every session, I learn something new. How you brake, how the tire feels, and even where all the buttons are. Once those things become subconscious, you can focus purely on driving. It’s been great working with Chaz as well, he’s teaching me some good stuff this weekend and hopefully we can do a great job for Kenny and fight for a win.”
When Habul called Power about joining the effort, it didn’t take long for him to say yes, and he hopes it opens the door for more opportunities to explore the realm of GT racing down the line.
“The Bathurst 12 Hour would be so cool. If it’s possible to do some of that in the future, I’d love to. To win the Indy 8 Hour would be very cool too, and getting another victory here in a different car on this track would be a big deal, especially with Kenny. We’ve known each other so long, and I really feel like we’ve got a shot.”
While Power adjusts to GT racing, fellow Aussie Chaz Mostert brings a wealth of GT3 experience in addition to an already impressive résumé of his own with his background in Supercars.
“The first thing you notice is that the cockpit’s on the other side,” Mostert laughed when discussing the differences in the machinery. “You’ve got to reanalyze the car in terms of where the gaps are, how much you can hit curbs, and the variations in downforce, ABS, and traction control.”
“Going from Supercars to a GT3 is actually a bit easier,” he continued. “You can use those systems to help find the limit. Like any car, you’ve got to bring it up properly to go fast, but the GT3 gives you the chance to really explore what it can do.”
Mostert’s GT3 experience has made for a smoother transition stateside, having previously raced at the Brickyard in a prior endurance event: “I came here last year for a six-hour race, and back home I’ve done a fair bit of GT3 racing, so I’m familiar with how things work,” he said.
Habul is confident in his car and his co-drivers heading into the eight-hour classic, and although he knows the challenge ahead, he believes “Team Australia” is capable of a memorable result.
“The Mercedes feels strong, Chaz has great experience, and Will was purple in two sectors during practice,” he elaborated. “That shows how good he is, even though he’s still learning. He says the car feels slow compared to an IndyCar, but he’s still really quick!”
“If we stay out of trouble and keep it clean, we can be there at the end,” he said. “Hopefully we can get a great result and maybe even a win. That would be really special.”