Supercars: Van Gisbergen pips Kostecki after epic battle in Perth

Shane van Gisbergen has beaten Brodie Kostecki in a thrilling battle that went down to the wire at the Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint this afternoon.

Van Gisbergen was last of the leaders to pit in the 42-lapper, and taking the extra time gave him newer tires which proved the difference as he managed to push past race leader and local hope Kostecki on the penultimate lap.

Brodie Kostecki congratulates Shane van Gisbergen

It came after a ding-dong battle between the two Chevrolet drivers, which included plenty of contact.

Such was the intensity, that Kostecki was slapped with a bad sportsmanship flag for blocking as he kept van Gisbergen’s #97 Red Bull Camaro at bay.

After Kostecki took the lead from the start line after beating the pole sitter off the mark, it took a robust move at Turn 6 for van Gisbergen to get the job done late in the race, with the Kiwi sailing away to career victory No. 78.

Van Gisbergen passes Kostecki

Penrite Racing’s David Reynolds completed the podium ahead of a charging Todd Hazelwood, who was an impressive fourth in his CoolDrive Ford.

James Courtney (#5 Snowy River Caravans Mustang) claimed fifth.

Rounding out the top 10 were kiwi rookie Matt Payne (#19 Penrite Mustang), Tim Slade (#23 Nulon Camaro), Will Davison (#17 Shell V-Power Mustang), Thomas Randle (#55 Castrol Mustang), and Broc Feeney (#88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro).

Kostecki continues to lead the drivers’ championship, now holding a 76-point buffer over the best of the Ford drivers, Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang), who finished 11th today.

Van Gisbergen is two points further back in third spot.

Kostecki’s Coca-Cola Erebus crew continues to lead the teams’ championship, now 79-points ahead of the Red Bull duo of van Gisbergen and Feeney.

Tomorrow, teams will be on track at 9:15am for back to back qualifying sessions that will determine the starting grid for Sunday’s two races.

Saturday Perth Race Results

POS NO. DRIVER TEAM BEHIND POINTS
1 97 Van Gisbergen Red Bull Holden Racing Team +0.000 100
2 99 B. Kostecki Penrite Racing – Erebus +0.595 92
3 26 Reynolds Penrite Racing +0.953 86
4 3 T. Hazelwood CoolDrive Racing +1.747 85
5 5 Courtney Tickford Racing 1 +2.928 74
6 19 M. Payne Penrite Racing +4.769 68
7 23 Slade PremiAir Subway Racing +4.850 64
8 17 Davison Shell V-Power Racing Team +7.230 60
9 55 T. Randle Tickford Racing 2 +7.924 56
10 88 B. Feeney Red Bull Holden Racing Team +8.396 52
11 25 Mostert Walkinshaw Andretti United +9.857 48
12 34 J. Le Brocq Matt Stone Racing +10.257 46
13 11 A. de Pasquale Shell V-Power Racing Team +11.305 44
14 31 J. Golding PremiAir Subway Racing +12.889 42
15 14 B. Fullwood Brad Jones Racing +12.911 40
16 9 W. Brown Penrite Racing – Erebus +16.129 38
17 2 Percat Walkinshaw Andretti United +17.804 36
18 600 Winterbottom Team 18 +17.995 34
19 56 D. Fraser Tickford Racing 2 +18.505 32
20 20 S. Pye Team 18 +18.900 30
21 8 Heimgartner Brad Jones Racing +22.888 28
22 6 C. Waters Tickford Racing 1 +25.611 26
23 35 C. Hill Matt Stone Racing +27.890 24
24 96 M. Jones Brad Jones Racing (2) +39.656 22
25 4 J. Smith Brad Jones Racing (2) +3 Laps 20