Kostecki survives wall hit to clinch All Stars crown

All Stars champion Brodie Kostecki was fortunate to survive a run-win with the concrete en route to third in the Watkins Glen finale.

Kostecki beat Richie Stanaway to the All Stars title by 129 points in the Cash Converters Supercars Eseries season finale.

The Erebus Motorsport driver crossed the line third behind winner Anton De Pasquale and Matthew Payne.

Kostecki challenged pole man De Pasquale in the early laps, and made a lunge for the lead on lap 9.

However, he emerged behind De Pasquale and Payne after his lap 10 stop, and was third in the queue when the BP Ultimate Safety Car was deployed.

At the restart, Kostecki brushed the wall and encouraged a challenge from Justin Ruggier - but he held on to the podium position.

It was enough to see Kostecki and Erebus become Eseries champions just four weeks out from the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship resumption.

“It was a pretty tough race in the end there,” Kostecki said.

“Unfortunately I hit the wall just after the restart and it backed me into the guys behind me.

“Just held on for the finish, and me and Richie had a good race, which was pretty cool.”

Kostecki pushed De Pasquale in the early laps, but the pit sequence ensured the Shell V-Power Racing Team driver only had Payne for company.

Regardless, third was still good enough for Kostecki, whose winning streak was ended at three.

“It was a pretty cool race, the draft here is pretty strong,” said Kostecki, who won the Daytona, Monza and Bathurst races.

“It was a pity I wasn’t able to fight for the win at the end, but it was good clean racing, and that’s what the Boost Mobile Commodore needed.

“To come away with the championship is pretty cool.”

With the Eseries crown in tow, Kostecki was keen to get back behind the wheel of his #99 Boost Mobile Commodore when the season restarts at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The Eastern Creek venue will host night racing when the championship arrives in Sydney on October 29.

Kostecki has form in Sydney, having scored two third-place finishes at last year's Super2 event.

“I can’t wait to get back, I’m about over the sim,” he said.

“I’m ready to drop it off the balcony!

“I can’t wait to get to Sydney and get behind the wheel again."