'I don't see it as a stutter': Why Winterbottom can't rule Kostecki out of title fight

2013 Bathurst 1000 winner Mark Winterbottom has a simple message to anyone who thinks Brodie Kostecki's tough weekend in Tasmania is the start of a championship slide.

Rule him out at your own peril.

Despite gaining on leader Broc Feeney with a podium in the opening race of the weekend, a collision with David Reynolds, and a refuelling gaffe combined with what Kostecki believed to be associated damage from the previous day, saw Kostecki fall 173 points off the pace.

When you combine it with his controversial collision with Chaz Mostert in Christchurch, Kostecki has lost 234 points in the last four races, and has dropped from first to third behind Feeney and Matt Payne.

However, for Winterbottom there is no cause for Kostecki and Dick Johnson Racing to panic, with his blinding speed from the opening four rounds enough for the field to understand where the #17 Ford really sits.

"I don't even think it's a stumble to be honest," the 2015 Supercars champion said on the latest episode of Supercars' The Run Home podcast.

"He's had one bad race. If I was racing in the championship right now, I'd be very nervous of beating Brodie Kostecki in the championship.

"I don't see it as a stutter, I don't see it as a fumble, he's very, very fast.

"This is what he's done, he's created an expectation. When you get five wins, you create an expectation that every time you roll out, you've got to win the race.

"I think he'd be pretty confident behind the scenes, and it puts pressure on other people, so I think he's in a good position.

"Really if I was Brodie Kostecki, I'd be very happy with how I was rolling along at the moment, so I wouldn't even call it a stutter or a stumble or anything."

However, his four-race run of bad luck has coincided with Feeney and Payne both finding form, as has Payne's Penrite Racing teammate Kai Allen, who is closing back in fifth.

Regardless, Kostecki has proven his stocks throughout his career in winning when his back is against the wall, notably his underdog title success in 2023, and his brilliant Bathurst win amidst an impending split with Erebus the following year.

"I'm sure he'll bounce back very quickly, this sport is very short-term. When you win and dominate, you're the flavour of the month," continued Winterbottom.

"When you have a round that you finish fifth or sixth, you lower your expectation a bit for results, you're out of flavour. It's a very quick-turning sport, so I think he's pretty good, he'll be back before you know it."

When asked if the run of bad luck will weigh on the mind of Kostecki and DJR before the season recommences, the current Tickford co-driver affirmed that the 28-year-old will only be wanting to look ahead.

Winterbottom also added that being on top of the wins tally for 2026 to date, by virtue of his five wins in the opening 11 races of the season, leaves Kostecki in a position of power despite his points position.

"It happens, that's motorsport. If you're worried about every bad result, you'd give up because this sport is so tough."

"People don't understand how tough it is to win a race, let alone to be competitive week in, week out. When you do win races, the pressure builds.

"For Brodie, I don't think he'd worry at all. He's a very strong, tough racer. I think he's quite resilient in the way he can bounce back.

"If I was Brodie Kostecki and I put my helmet on, I'd be confident of winning every time I go out, which is a pretty powerful thing."

Kostecki's 2026 Repco Sprint Cup challenge continues at the betr Darwin Triple Crown from June 19-21. Tickets for the event are on sale now.