Kostecki trio reunite for QLD karting titles
Jake Kostecki has
Matt Stone Racing driver Jake, the youngest of the three Kosteckis, competed at the QLD Kart Championships in Emerald at the weekend.
The Kostecki family has a strong connection with karting, with all three drivers enjoying success in their formative racing years.
Brothers Kurt and Jake competed in major karting events across Australia before racing in America.
In 2013, Jake finished overall third in the SuperKarts national championship.
Erebus Motorsport driver Brodie recorded his first karting state title at 10 years of age, before relocating to America in 2011 to pursue a career in NASCAR.
The Kostecki trio shared the Supercars grid as solo drivers for the first time in May, with full-time drivers Jake and Brodie joined by wildcard Kurt.
More than 300 competitors took part in the three-day competition at the Emerald Kart Club, with a state champion crowned in each of the 16 categories.
The Kosteckis travelled to North Queensland for the event, arriving on Thursday.
Swapping their race helmets for tools, Brodie and Kurt formed Jake’s pit crew for the meet, with all three camping onsite for the weekend.
Jake lined up in the TaG 125 Light class, which feature a competitive 34-kart field for the event.
Heavy rain hampered Friday’s early practice sessions, but the weather cleared in time for the afternoon qualifying events.
Jake qualified 11th for the opening heat race, recording 14th and three top 10 results on Saturday.
Kurt posted to his social media accounts that they had been called to the stewards, triggering a response from their Supercars contemporaries.
"Stewards room trip was never in doubt," commented Shell V-Power Racing Team driver Anton De Pasquale.
"Send me the footage, I’ll be the judge," Team Sydney veteran Fabian Coulthard added.
Sunday’s 20-lap final saw 21-year-old Jake finish eighth overall in Queensland.
He is 19th in the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship standings, eight places behind Erebus driver Brodie.
The door is ajar for Kurt to return to his Walkinshaw Andretti United wildcard entry at Sydney Motorsport Park, which will host four consecutive events.
The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will resume with the Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight on October 29.
