Kostecki's coy 'chicken sandwich' response to Bathurst question

Pole man Brodie Kostecki was giving nothing away over his Bathurst chances in Saturday afternoon’s press conference.

Shell V-Power Racing Team star Kostecki has been the pace-setter this weekend, blazing to pole position in the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout.

Despite his speed, the reigning Bathurst champion has been vocal, claiming a performance disadvantage for Ford in Friday qualifying, despite claiming provisional pole.

Dick Johnson Racing lodged a protest on Saturday morning, which was later dismissed. On Saturday afternoon, Mustangs locked out the first two rows.

A pole winner in 2023 and 2024 aboard an Erebus Motorsport Chevrolet, and defending winner of the Repco Bathurst 1000, Kostecki was asked about his achievements over the last two years.

In response, Kostecki quipped: “I had a chicken sandwich for lunch, and I reckon they went a bit too heavy on the aioli. So, I might tune it up for tomorrow."

DJR’s protest was lodged against Supercars itself, with stewards dismissing the said protest. In the hours after the stewards report, DJR published a strongly-worded statement.

When asked about his chances on Sunday, Kostecki added: “We’ll just let tomorrow play out and see, and go from there.”

The lead Chevrolet in the Shootout, Broc Feeney, ended up fifth after a hairy lap. Walkinshaw Andretti United driver Chaz Mostert, who qualified third, claimed he could barely hold a candle to Kostecki.

“Even in our garage we seem to be even struggling to be as fast as some of the other Fords out there, like I’m still losing a tenth and a half to Brodie’s thing,” the two-time Bathurst winner said.

“So either he’s got some special Ford rocket motor that they’ve kept aside for him, or our set-ups are generally draggy, I don’t know.

“I’ve been 25th, 26th in a straight line all week. We’ll see how tomorrow plays out and go from there. I even tried to make the car a bit skinnier [by crashing] in Practice 1.”

It could all prove moot with rain forecast on Sunday. Co-drivers were especially on notice, given Thursday’s Practice 2 was the only wet session of the weekend.

Supercars also enacted key changes before the enduros to ensure greater strategy in the races, something Mostert was looking forward to.

“I’m just hoping it’s one of them, old ding-dong battle Bathursts,” Mostert added.

“I hope it puts a bit of pressure on in the pits and the race side of things and strategy and making those right calls, because they’re the favourite Bathursts that we love to watch back.”

The pole-sitting #38 Shell V-Power Ford of Kostecki/Hazelwood was 14th in morning Warm Up.