Supercars News: Kostecki and Hazelwood win Bathurst 1000

Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood are the 2024 Repco Bathurst 1000 Champions, holding off a charging Broc Feeney to win the fastest ever Bathurst 1000.

Kostecki, who started the year as defending Champion on the sidelines, and Hazelwood, who took the West Australian’s spot at Erebus while Kostecki missed the opening two rounds – are now written into history as Bathurst’s Kings of the Mountain.

Kostecki, who from the 24 Championship drivers who have contested the majority of events in 2024 started today in 24th position on points, converted his pole position to his most famous race win after finishing runner-up in 2023 and third in 2021.

The 26-year-old Kostecki didn’t have it all his own way, Gold Coast youngster Broc Feeney pushed the Erebus Chiko Camaro from start to finish.

Feeney and Supercars great Jamie Whincup finished in second place, while their Red Bull Ampol Racing teammates of Will Brown and Scott Pye finished third to round out the Chevrolet 1-2-3 podium.

Brodie Kostecki said: “Honestly I can’t believe it, this guy here did a great job the whole weekend, I knew we had a fast car, we just didn’t quite chase it enough there towards the end.

“I just can’t believe it, I’m just in awe at the moment.

“Just glad to really get this one ticked off the bucket list and can’t wait to celebrate with all the guys and girls tonight.”

Brown’s lead in the Championship is now out to 204 points from Feeney who has leapfrogged Ford’s best, Chaz Mostert who drops to third, 225 behind Brown.

The day and history though belonged to Kostecki and Hazelwood who executed perfectly across 161 laps to make it two Bathurst 1000 wins for Betty Klimenko, Barry Ryan and the Erebus squad, that last won the Great Race with David Reynolds and Luke Youlden in 2017.

It ensures Klimenko’s Erebus outfit joins the great teams of the sport having now claimed the 2023 Supercars’ Driver Championship, 2023 Team’s Championship, and two Bathurst 1000 victories (2017, 2024).

For Hazelwood, the 29-year-old proud South Australian, it’s a story of redemption. After being dumped by Blanchard Racing Team in favor of a rookie for 2024, Hazelwood linked with Erebus and is now a Bathurst 1000 winner.

Hazelwood, the 2017 Dunlop Super2 Series winner, famously got his start in Supercars on the back of years of fundraising by his family to realize his dream, including sausage sizzles outside department stores.

Todd Hazelwood said: “Unbelievable, I think I’m hallucinating.”

“I’m absolutely speechless, I’ve never crossed my fingers so much, my fingers are purple. I’m lost for words, Bush [Kostecki] is an absolute legend, we’ve been mates since day one, and to do this together with him in an absolute rocket ship of a car.

“It’s been a tough year, but man when you win Bathurst it makes up for everything.

“This has been my dream since I was a kid, I remember watching the race as early as three or four years old and dreaming of being on this podium, and to share it here with Bush [Kostecki] and the team at Erebus Motorsport in the #1 Chiko Camaro is unbelievable.”

The race itself took its time in coming to life.

After nearly five hours of racing and minor events, the first and only bp Pulse Safety Car of the afternoon was called on Lap 132 of 161 when kiwi Matt Payne put the #19 Penrite Racing Ford Mustang into the concrete fence at The Cutting.

After Kostecki had opened a comfortable lead, the Safety Car brought his Chiko Erebus Camaro back to the pack, and a sprint finish ensued.

Feeney pushed Kostecki the whole way over the final laps but couldn’t catch the defending Supercars Champion who emotionally crossed the line for this first ever Bathurst win.

The crowd roared as Kostecki and Hazelwood lifted the Peter Brock Trophy atop the Mount Panorama podium for the first time.

With the Championship down to just two more events, all attention turns to the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 which will run 25-27 on the streets of Surfers Paradise.

Solid Attendance

Supercars has announced a four-day crowd of 193,219 people for the 2024 Repco Bathurst 1000.

The figure is slightly lower than in recent years, including the heavily weather-affected 2022 running of the Great Race that attracted 195,578 people over four days.

Last year’s race was the third-highest attendance in history with 204,069 attendees.

Supercars CEO Shane Howard said, “We are incredibly proud of the ongoing support from our fans, who continue to show their passion for the Repco Bathurst 1000 year after year,” he said.

“With over 193,000 fans joining us this weekend, the Great Race remains one of Australia’s most loved sporting events, steeped in history and tradition.

“As always, we are incredibly proud that the event filled more than 7000 campsites and enjoyed the unique atmosphere that only Mount Panorama can provide.

“The sight of thousands of campers celebrating around the mountain throughout the weekend underscores the incredible community spirit that the Bathurst 1000 fosters every year.”

RACE RESULT – REPCO BATHURST 1000