The familiar faces fast-tracking Kostecki's DJR move
Brodie Kostecki settling into life at Dick Johnson Racing
2023 champion made first public DJR appearance on Monday
Erebus engineers George Commins and Tom Moore also joined DJR
Brodie Kostecki is benefiting from the familiar faces of engineers George Commins and Tom Moore as the 2023 Supercars champion settles into life at Dick Johnson Racing.
Kostecki, Commins and Moore arrive at DJR from Erebus Motorsport, where Kostecki and Commins combined to win the 2023 drivers' championship and 2024 Bathurst 1000.
Commins and Moore won't be the only old friend making the jump to DJR, with Bathurst-winning co-driver Todd Hazelwood also following Kostecki.
The eight-time Supercars race winner made his first public appearance in Shell V-Power Racing Team colours at a Supercars sponsor announcement at Queensland Raceway on Monday.
There, in a tucked-in Shell V-Power shirt, cap and black pants, Kostecki looked all parts DJR driver. However, he was pleased to bring across knowledge and comfort he got used to at Erebus, where he turned from rookie to Supercars powerhouse.
“It’s been a little bit different. It’s actually my first day today in team colours,” Kostecki said on Monday.
“It’s been fantastic getting to know everyone at the team. It’s such a professional organisation.
“We’re looking to start off strong in Sydney in a few weeks. We’ve got a shakedown day coming up and the first test day as well at Sydney.
“It’s eyes forwards for us and we’re going to try and get ourselves some trophies."
Kostecki is based on the Gold Coast, which is closer to DJR's Stapylton workshop versus Erebus' Melbourne headquarters.
The Perth-born driver has been getting plenty of time in at DJR's base, getting to know his new crew and working closely with Commins as they prepare to race Ford Mustang for the first time. Moore, meanwhile, will engineer two-time Bathurst winner Will Davison.
Should Kostecki take out one of the three races at Round 1 in Sydney, the 27-year-old will become just the fifth driver in the V8 era, since 1993, to win at his first round with a new team.
“I’ve been at the workshop a fair bit getting to know everyone, spent a lot of time with my engineer George and getting myself familiarised with all the processes and things that they do there at Shell V-Power Racing," Kostecki said.
“It’s been a little bit different for myself but I’m very much looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the car again and getting to drive a Ford Mustang for the first time.
“It’s great to be able to bring over some people that I’m quite familiar with. Working with George again, I think it’s our fifth year this year… it’s great to be working with him again. We get along great.
“That’s something I’m really used to, when he jumps into the cockpit, he knows by my eyes if the car is good or not.
“That’s probably the hardest thing [about changing teams], building that relationship with your engineer, so having that moving over to Shell V-Power Racing is fantastic.
“I look forward to the start of the season at Sydney, it should be awesome.”
Kostecki and Davison will steer their new Fords at an upcoming shakedown before the official test day on February and Round 1, both at Sydney Motorsport Park in February. Tickets are on sale now.
