Dick Johnson Racing changing Brodie Kostecki Ford engine
Engine labelled "doughy" by engineer Tom Moore on Friday
Kostecki denied green tyre run in final runs before qualifying
The Shell V-Power Racing Team has moved to arrest a suspected power issue in the Brodie Kostecki Ford, opting to swing a pre-qualifying engine change.
Kostecki was denied a green tyre run at the end of Practice 4, which was topped by Ford rival James Golding.
Dick Johnson Racing made a quick decision to pull the #17 Shell V-Power Ford into the garage heading into the final third of the 60-minute session.
DJR advised to Supercars.com that the change is precautionary, with stand-in engineer Tom Moore — substituting for the injured George Commins — insisting time was better spent changing the engine in the closing minutes of practice.
It comes after Penrite Racing swung an engine change on Matt Payne's Ford between Friday's two practice sessions.
"Just feels a bit doughy going up the hill," Moore said on the broadcast.
"Some of the micro sectors aren't that pretty. There's a lot of red squares on the speed trap."
It ensures the pecking order remains somewhat unknown heading into qualifying, which will set the running order for Saturday's Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout.
Moore claimed Kostecki — who is chasing a record fourth consecutive Bathurst 1000 pole position — was content with the balance of the #17 Ford.
The call to change the engine comes as DJR continues repairs on the #38 Ford damaged in a Practice 3 crash for Tony D'Alberto. The #38 Ford will miss Boost Mobile Qualifying.
"It's Bathurst, you don't sort of leave anything on unturned. The balance, he's pretty happy then, and he's pretty happy with the car for qualifying.
"So we'll take the time now to get hooked into the engine change, get back on track for qualifying, and hopefully be quicker in a straight line."
Qualifying commences at 4:10pm AEDT on Friday afternoon.
