Wildcard Kostecki keen to lean on established WAU
Being able to lean on two champion drivers and a champion team has Kurt Kostecki ready to maximise his three wildcard appearances for Walkinshaw Andretti United.
Kostecki will line up in a third WAU entry at this weekend’s OTR SuperSprint as part of a three-event wildcard campaign.
The 2019 Super2 runner-up will join 2020 Super2 champion Thomas Randle in an expanded 26-car grid for the Tailem Bend, Darwin and Perth events.
This weekend marks Kostecki’s first main game start since last October’s Bathurst 1000.
Kostecki, whose brother Jake and cousin Brodie will also be on the grid, made his full-time main game debut aboard a Kostecki Brothers Racing entry at the 2018 Tailem Bend and Ipswich events.
Kostecki at The Bend in 2018
Fast forward to 2021, and he’ll have leading WAU machinery at his disposal; a far cry from the small family-operated team he first debuted with.
“It was certainly a challenge for everyone, running our own car in the main game back in 2018,” the 22-year-old told Supercars.com.
“Since then, the series has come a long way in terms of control parts of the car.
“Back in 2018, there were a lot more variables, and it was tough for a small team likes ours to get everything in the window when we needed to.
“I’m really looking forward to being with WAU this year, because they have a really good handle on the cars, and they’ve proven every week that their cars are fast.
WATCH: KOSTECKI CAUGHT UP IN 2018
“I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of their car and seeing what I can do.”
Kostecki recorded a best finish of 23rd across the two events as he battled to get up to speed.
He continued his Super2 commitments and finished eighth in 2018, before impressing aboard a Triple Eight Commodore to finish second overall.
With Chaz Mostert and Bryce Fullwood now in his corner, Kostecki believes is better-placed to perform this weekend.
“Those 2018 events were an eye-opener to see what it takes to be in the main game full-time,” he explained.
On track in Super2 in 2019
“Doing it ourselves was the biggest challenge, not having a teammate to lean on.
“Having Chaz and Bryce there will be super beneficial to my development, as will having three rounds rather than two.”
Kostecki’s main game journey began in 2016, when as a teenager, he substituted for an injured Lee Holdsworth, who was sidelined following his horror Darwin accident.
While the Townsville and Ipswich Team 18 cameos didn’t offer much in the way of results, Kostecki acknowledged that the events were another opportunity to prepare for a career at the top level.
A young Kostecki in 2016
“I was thrown into the deep end [in 2016], but I wasn’t going to shy away from an opportunity like that,” he said.
“I’ve developed a lot since then; I’ve done a lot of Super2 races, Bathursts and things like that.
“I learnt a lot back then, and every year I’ve learnt more and more, besides last year when I didn’t do much racing because of COVID.”
Come this weekend, and WAU is buoyed by Mostert’s breakthrough win at Symmons Plains, which was the Holden team’s first in three years.
Kostecki aboard the Team 18 car in 2016
The team also has form at The Bend; in 2020, Mostert scored his first WAU pole, while 2019 Super2 champion Fullwood scored a surprise maiden podium.
With a greater iteration of WAU turning up this weekend, Kostecki is confident he won’t be there to make up the numbers, especially after a strong Winton test day recently.
“Everything’s pointing in the right direction for the team,” said Kostecki, who will be engineered by Adam Austin.
“The cars were quick there last year; Bryce got a podium, Chaz got a pole.
“The development in the cars since then, the cars are night and day better than what I drove at Bathurst last year.
“I’m looking forward to have a team like WAU to lean on"
“I felt that at Winton, it’s cool to see the development and hard work that’s gone into making the cars fast.
“We used the Winton test day to get through our toolbox as such. We put things in the car to revalidate what the team has done so far this year.
“I’m looking forward to have a team like WAU to lean on with three cars working together to go faster.”
The Repco Supercars Championship field will return to The Bend Motorsport Park this weekend for the OTR SuperSprint across May 7-9. Tickets are on sale now.
The event will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo with highlights on 7 and 7 Plus.
