Time to step up

Supercars Dunlop Series rookie Jake Kostecki wants to up his game in the second half of the development series season and reward his hardworking Kostecki Brothers Racing team.

The category hits the track next week for the first time since July, with the Wilson Security Sandown 500 next on the calendar.

Kostecki is as prepared as possible after three days on-track at Barbagallo Raceway early this week. He tackled the track in 2015, participating in the Australian Kumho V8 Touring Car Series, finishing ninth overall in their championship despite not competing in the final round.

Despite recent improvement at the Castrol EDGE Townsville 400, finishing in the top 13, 16-year old Kostecki says he is ready to step up his game and become more competitive in the field. 

“I don’t think I have been going too well myself lately,” Kostecki told Supercars.com. 

“I’d like to be further up the field and become more competitive.

Kostecki sits in 18th position in the Dunlop Series Championship and is confident there is room to progress in the final three rounds of the season. 

“I want to be in the top ten or better because the guys at the workshop have being putting in a hard effort, so it’ll be good to give something back to them.”

“We tried a lot of stuff testing this week, so I get used of what the car does, and for Sandown too, so hopefully we can be more competitive.

He noted the Italian Race Engineer Massimo Del Prete has been a great addition to Kostecki Brothers Racing, recently attending the last two test days.

Del Prete also works as a part of the LMP1 World Endurance Championship.

 “He has been helping out heaps and will come to Sandown next weekend,” Kostecki said.

“He will work on my car, but help out Kurt as well.

“We are hoping to keep him on board.”

Kostecki has been following in his brother Kurt’s footsteps, assisting Triple Eight Race Engineering at race meetings.

 “The last two rounds Team Vortex have asked me to so on rounds I’m not racing I’ve just helped out,” Kostecki said.

Kostecki’s older brother and teammate Kurt did not turn any laps in his #55 Holden Commodore VF at Barbagallo Raceway this week.

He has secured a junior mechanical role at Triple Eight Race Engineering and resides in Brisbane. 

Kostecki has been working on the Red Bull Supercars at the workshop this week in preparation for yesterday's test at Queensland Raceway.

The Kostecki brothers will be back on-track at the Wilson Security Sandown 500, September 16-18.