First podium an 'amazing feeling' for veteran Russell

Brodie Kostecki was just five years old when David Russell made his Great Race debut in 2003.

Fast forward 18 years, and the duo combined to record Erebus Motorsport's second Bathurst podium.

Kostecki and Russell raced the #99 Boost Mobile Erebus Commodore from 10th to third.

A late Shane van Gisbergen puncture aided their run to third, with Kostecki clearing the slowing #97 Red Bull Ampol Commodore in risky fashion.

It was another instalment in Kostecki's epic drives; for Russell, who didn't put a foot wrong al day, it was reward for patience and hard work.

Russell's previous best result was eighth alongside Rick Kelly in 2014.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Russell said after the race.

“You grow up watching all your heroes on the podium, and you look to them wanting to be them one day.

“Of course you want it to be the top step, but of course I’ll take the first podium here.”

Russell infamously crashed out of the 2013 race when he hit a kangaroo.

In 11 previous starts, Russell had recorded four DNFs and just two tops 10s.

Russell, 15 years Kostecki's senior, credited his young partner for getting the #99 to the pointy end when it mattered.

“It certainly hasn’t been through a lack of trying in the past; I’ve hit kangaroos off the start," he continued.

“Things like that are pretty devastating to deal with through your career.

“At the end of the day, you keep chipping away and here we are. ‘Bush’ did an amazing job today.

“As a combo, it worked out pretty good."

The 13-event 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle next year. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

The 13-round draft calendar was released on Sunday.