Kostecki passes Ford duo to win, Brown taken out
Brodie Kostecki has put passes on Chaz Mostert and Thomas Randle to win Race 20 at the OTR SuperSprint, extending his points lead.
The #99 Coca-Cola Camaro driver dropped from pole to third behind Randle (#55 Castrol Mustang) and Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang) on the run to Turn 1, but re-passed both drivers en route to victory.
Mostert later passed Randle to finish second, with the latter taking his best solo result in Supercars despite a late challenge from Tickford Racing teammate Cam Waters (#6 Monster Energy Mustang).
Kostecki’s fourth win of the season was given more weight given teammate Will Brown, who was second in the standings, was taken out at Turn 1.
Brown’s #9 Coca-Cola Camaro was turned around at the first corner and was one of three drivers — with Cameron Hill and Jack Smith — to pick up damage.
It was the second time in as many races that Brown had been sent into a spin at Turn 1, having speared off in the Sydney finale.
Shane van Gisbergen passed Red Bull Ampol Racing teammate Broc Feeney after the stops, with the teammates moving to second and third in the championship.
"I made it hard for myself, I didn't get a good jump, Chaz and Tom got a good start," said Kostecki, who claimed early honours at the 600th ATCC/Supercars round.
"Had to pass them both back prior to the stop, this Coca-Cola Camaro had plenty of pace under it.
"Proud of everyone at Erebus, it's great to get the pole and win today."
Randle launched into the lead off the line, with a fast-starting Mostert — who qualified fifth — pushing Kostecki down to third.
Contact down the order saw Brown turned in front of the pack, with Hill (#35 Truck Assist Camaro) clouted by Smith (#4 SCT Logistics Camaro). All three Chevrolets were out on the spot, with the bp Ultimate Safety Car deployed.
Randle led the field to green on lap 5, with the compulsory pit stop window (CPS) immediately opened. At the end of the lap, Feeney (#88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro) led James Courtney (#5 Snowy River Caravans Mustang) into the lane.
Kostecki powered past Mostert at Turn 6 for second with a move from far back and set off after Randle. Behind them, Waters passed van Gisbergen (#97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro) with a robust move at Turn 14 on lap 9.
On lap 11, Kostecki made his move on Randle at Turn 17, but the latter was brought into the lane immediately, with Mostert following the Castrol Ford in.
Randle and Mostert emerged ahead of Feeney and Courtney, with Waters and van Gisbergen brought in on the following lap. Waters emerged behind the two Fords as Mostert pressured Randle.
Kostecki was brought in on lap 13 and emerged ahead of the squabbling Mustangs, with Mostert muscling past Randle — but not without contact — at Turn 6 on lap 14. On the following lap, van Gisbergen went through on Feeney.
On lap 15, Race Control notified that the Mostert and Randle contact was under investigation, with the former avoiding penalty.
Kostecki carried on and opened up a 1.3s lead on Mostert with three laps remaining. Randle, meanwhile, fell into the clutches of Waters as behind them, Matt Payne (#19 Penrite Mustang) pounced on Courtney for seventh.
Waters was instructed not to attack Randle — an instruction the Monster Mustang driver questioned — but it did little to deter Kostecki, who raced away to a 1.7s victory.
Payne came home seventh ahead of Courtney, with Will Davison jumping from 13th to ninth aboard his #17 Shell V-Power Mustang.
Andre Heimgartner (#8 R&J Batteries Camaro) rounded out the top 10, with Courtney taking fastest lap bonus points.
Kostecki will take an 80-point lead over van Gisbergen into Sunday, with Feeney 99 points down in third. Brown dropped from 41 to 141 points back, with Mostert still fifth.
Brown's DNF had a far greater impact on the teams' championship, with Triple Eight now just 43 points behind Erebus.
Supercars will return to the track for ARMOR ALL Qualifying for Races 21 and 22 at 9:45am local time/10:15am AEST on Sunday.
