Kostecki fires final shot ahead of qualifying
Kostecki over 0.6s clear in final practice before qualifying
Pye second, Mostert third after frantic end to Practice 4
Van Gisbergen only 17th after mistake on final flyer at Murray's Corner
Brodie Kostecki has fired the final shot ahead of ARMOR ALL Qualifying at the Repco Bathurst 1000, setting a time over 0.6s clear of his rivals in Practice 4.
The championship leader recovered from an unbalanced start to proceedings to set a 2:05.6178s midway through the 60-minute session.
Ahead of the final runs, Kostecki (#99 Coca-Cola Camaro) was nearly 0.3s clear of his closest rival, with Broc Feeney (#88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro) second with a 2:05.9106s.
As the chequered flag flew, the times tumbled; Feeney wound up ninth and teammate Shane van Gisbergen made a key error, as Kostecki clocked a 2:05.1215 to go 0.6311s clear at the top.
Scott Pye was an impressive second aboard his #20 Toyota Forklifts Camaro, with Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang) third.
There were 10 drivers to set times in the 2:05s, which before the final runs, looked hard to come by. Changing conditions ensured the field was initially off the morning pace, with Matt Payne topping Practice 3 with a 2:05.2855s.
“We’ve seen a few times this year with these cars, it seems like the track conditions affect the car balance quite a bit,” Kostecki said before getting in the car for the final runs.
“I'm not sure if its because these cars have less aero, so they don't push through the old rubber that was left on the track.
“That’s probably the million dollar question. We’ve tried to preempt the track gripping up, but we still haven’t been able to keep up with it.”
Cam Waters (#6 Monster Energy Mustang), Payne (#19 Penrite Mustang) and Anton De Pasquale (#11 Shell V-Power Mustang) were just behind.
Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, ended up 17th after his late mistake.
As cars rolled out, Erebus Motorsport was in no hurry to send the #99 Camaro out, but when Kostecki was dispatched, the red Chevrolet seemed unbalanced.
Pye set the fastest first flyer, a 2:06.6486s, before David Reynolds (#26 Penrite Mustang) improved the benchmark to a 2:06.5218s.
Thomas Randle (#55 Tickford Racing Mustang) went to the top with to a 2:06.4750s, before Will Brown (#9 Coca-Cola Camaro returned Erebus to the top. Kostecki aborted his lap after an error at The Chase, and returned to the pits.
The series leader returned and clocked a 2:05.6178s to go almost 0.4s clear, before handing his car over to co-driver David Russell.
Feeney jumped into the 2:05s with a 2:05.9675s to go second, splitting the two Erebus cars. James Golding (#31 Nulon Camaro) was fourth ahead of Waters, with van Gisbergen 11th.
Teams rolled out for their final ruins, with van Gisbergen first locking a brake at Forrest’s Elbow before recovering to set the fastest first sector. However, he ran off at Murray’s Corner, ending up 17th.
De Pasquale, Waters, Pye and Mostert all moved up, before Kostecki returned to the track and powered to a 2:05.1215s.
Golding ended up seventh ahead of Randle, Feeney, and Jack Le Brocq (#34 Truck Assist Camaro). Brown ended up 11th, with Reynolds 18th.
Supercars will return to the track for all-important ARMOR ALL Qualifying at 4:15pm AEDT on Friday afternoon, with the 10 fastest drivers earning passage to Saturday’s Top Ten Shootout.
