In a memorable day for motorsport fans, Brodie Kostecki has broken Chevrolet’s impressive streak of 12 consecutive victories in the Supercars championship, claiming victory in the first race of the weekend at the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park circuit.
Kostecki, driver for Dick Johnson Racing, showcased outstanding dominance in the race, securing pole position in hard-to-imagine circumstances. Despite feeling unwell during his best time, he was able to overcome it and, after a safety car that reduced the race from 19 to 17 laps, he managed to win with a 0.46-second advantage over Broc Feeney from Triple Eight.
“I needed a bit more in race pace; Matty [Payne] was following me very closely at the end,” Kostecki commented, who had achieved his third victory at Albert Park. “Even though I wasn’t feeling 100%, the important thing was that I had a good car down”.
After the restart, the top four Fords – Kostecki, Payne, Feeney, and James Golding – maintained a superior pace, building a small gap to the other competitors. The first rival was Chaz Mostert‘s Toyota GR Supra, who was attacked by Cam Waters and Will Brown.
Payne achieved second place with little difference in points in the championship over Feeney, who expressed satisfaction with this podium: “It was a good day, but it wasn’t what we came looking for,” he stated.
The day also saw two notable recoveries, including that of Kai Allen, who, after starting with an accident, finished in eleventh position after passing 13 cars.
The doctor from the PremiAir Racing team worked against the clock to repair Jayden Ojeda‘s car, who said goodbye to qualifying after crashing. Despite the setbacks, he recovered his vehicle to finish the race in 16th position.
On another positive note, Supercars officials have confirmed that the event will continue to be part of the support program for the Australian Grand Prix for the next three years, securing its presence at the historic circuit until 2029.
The drivers will return to the track on Friday for the second race of an intense competition weekend.
