Champion Kostecki surprised by Drivers' Driver award

Brodie Kostecki surprised to be voted by peers as 2023 Drivers’ Driver
Champion Kostecki won six races, took 10 poles and 18 podiums
Kostecki became fourth driver to win championship and Drivers' Driver

Newly-minted Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki was surprised to be voted by his peers as Drivers’ Driver for 2023 despite a breakout season.

Erebus Motorsport Chevrolet driver Kostecki took out the driver-voted award at Monday’s Supercars Gala Awards night in Adelaide.

The champion of 2023, Kostecki won six races, claimed 10 pole positions and scored 18 podiums — all season-high benchmarks.

Voted on by the drivers of the Repco Supercars Championship, the Drivers’ Driver award was first given in 2015 and recognises outstanding conduct over the course of the season.

Kostecki, 26, is the fourth driver after Shane van Gisbergen (2016 and 2021), Jamie Whincup (2017) and Scott McLaughlin (2019) to add the Drivers’ Driver award to his drivers’ championship.

Erebus swept the pool in 2023, also winning the teams’ championship and ARMOR ALL Pole Champion Award for Kostecki.

For the driver himself, however, being recognised by his rivals was a surprise, with Kostecki citing the championship/Drivers’ Drivers double as “something I’ll treasure forever”.

“It’s truly an honour, honestly I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Kostecki said on Monday night.

“It was quite funny, we were at lunch, and as Chaz [Mostert] said earlier, we’re starting to develop a great relationship with us all.

“But when the helmets go on, those relationships seem to delete themselves.

“It’s truly an honour to receive that trophy, and to be voted by your peers is just awesome.

“It’s pretty cool to collect both trophies, and it’s something I’ll treasure forever.”

The Perth-born driver was one of several big winners on the night, headlined by a first Barry Sheene Medal for Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford star Mostert.

Kostecki’s title defence will commence at the Thrifty Bathurst 500 on February 23-25, 2024. Tickets are on sale now.

Supercars Drivers’ Driver winners

Two-time winners

Shane van Gisbergen (2016, 2021)

Cam Waters (2020, 2022)

One-time winners

Lee Holdsworth (2015)

Jamie Whincup (2017)

David Reynolds (2018)

Scott McLaughlin (2019)

Brodie Kostecki (2023)