Supercars: Kostecki continues winning ways in wild Grand Prix sprint

Coca-Cola Chevrolet Camaro #99 ace Brodie Kostecki is currently celebrating his second successive Supercars race win right now, after another day filled with highs and lows across pit lane.

West Australian Kostecki still has to await a post-race investigation for an unsafe release in pit lane which means the Stewards will decide the exact outcome of today’s third race at the Beaurepaires Melbourne SuperSprint at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix.

While he awaits that decision, 25-year old Camaro driver Kostecki has celebrated his second career win and second race win in two days and second of his 76 race career in a result that could have major bearings on this year’s Championship.

Defending Supercars Champion Shane van Gisbergen stood on the second placed position on the podium while Kostecki’s Camaro teammate Will Brown has been awarded third position.

It was a race filled with highlights yet again on the famous Albert Park circuit, and it all started on the opening lap.

As Kostecki sped away from the field off the start line, former Champion Mark Winterbottom in the DeWalt Camaro went into one of the concrete walls at high speed after a clash with fellow Camaro driver, Nulon Racing’s James Golding.

Later on that lap James Courtney’s Snowy Rivers Ford Mustang caught fire above the front tires as it entered pit lane. As crews from various teams put the blaze out, Courtney walked away safely.

As the racing continued there was a second huge crash when Macauley Jones Pizza Hut Camaro clashed with rookie Matt Payne’s Penrite Ford Mustang. Jones made contact with Anton De Pasquale’s Shell Mustang, sending the #11 Mustang spinning across the circuit and rearing into a concrete wall.

After the Safety Car teams had to make their mandatory pit stop and the pit lane theatrics brought even more highlights that had a huge bearing on the result.

Firstly, Middy’s Camaro driver Bryce Fullwood who was on track for a podium result crashed into the back of rookie Declan Fraser’s Tradie Mustang – it was deemed an illegal move which meant the Northern Territory native in the Camaro copped a 15 second penalty and gave up a podium result.

The second incident in pit lane saw Shell Ford’s Will Davison drive into a wheel that had just been taken off Shane van Gisbergen’s Red Bull Camaro, sending it bouncing down the lane.

Chaz Mostert in the Mobil 1 Optus Mustang dodged the bouncing wheel before it was recovered. Davison copped his own 15 second penalty.

Even though he crossed the finish line in second place, the penalty meant Davison dropped down the order and van Gisbergen and Brown filled the lower placings on the podium pending the outcome of the Kostecki investigation.

Kostecki said after the race: “It was a good start, just got a clean jump off the line.

“Will [Brown] had plenty of pace there behind me, just tried to bring the tires up a little bit.

“It’s unbelievable, it’s great to reward the whole team with finishes like these and we just have to keep it up.”

Kostecki wasn’t aware of the post-race investigation but when asked by commentator Garth Tander said: “No one hit me, or stepped on the brakes.”

As the Repco Supercars Championship points tally now stands, Mostert still holds the lead, albeit by just one point from Kostecki.

Brown is third, while van Gisbergen has moved to within 88 points of Mostert.

Supercars has one race to go, tomorrow’ final sprint of the event which will begin at 10:25am local time.

Red Bull Camaro youngster Broc Feeney will start from pole after becoming the youngest driver in Supercars’ history to claim a pole position, van Gisbergen will start from 12th and Kostecki will start from 14th.

Ford Mustangs Burning to a Crisp

There have now been two serious engines fires in as many days, both occurring on Ford Mustangs from different teams.

Yesterday it was Nick Percat’s Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford that caught fire early in the race, while today James Courtney’s Tickford Mustang was badly scorched by what looks to be an identical issue.

The second fire has now sparked tension in the paddock with concerns over driver safety.

The source of the fires is yet to be determined, with WAU left convinced the issue on the Percat car was electrical from a control sensor.

Supercars wasn’t convinced by that, though, issuing a directive to teams today suggesting that the ‘BF1 TPMS ECU’, which is part of the tire pressure monitoring systems, wasn’t to blame.

Instead the series warned teams to check oil levels and drain catch cans before today’s race – something that didn’t prevent the Courtney fire.

Tickford CEO Tim Edwards did comment, although stopped short of putting a solid theory forward – except to say that it wasn’t related to the oil tank or catch can, and that it did feel like it was triggered by an electrical issue.

“None whatsoever,” when asked if there were any clues as to what happened.

“Plenty of theories, everybody’s got theories. It’s obviously the same thing that happened to Nick’s car.

“We checked the catch can before the race and there was nothing in the catch can.

“I think the source of it has come from the electrical but we don’t know.”

Race Results