Kostecki explains 'huge responsibility’ of carrying DJR's ‘feared' #17

The #17 returns to championship winning hands from 2026, with Brodie Kostecki prepared to carry the “immense” weight of exception with the number.

Confirmed at the Shell V-Power Racing Team’s season launch on Sunday, Kostecki will run the revered #17 from 2026, taking over from Will Davison.

The number holds a special place in the history of Dick Johnson Racing, with Johnson and Scott McLaughlin combining to win eight drivers’ championships with the #17.

Supercars and Australian Motorsport Hall of Famer Johnson raced the #17 to championships in 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988 and 1989, before McLaughlin won three consecutive titles in the #17 between 2018 and 2020.

Only the #1, with 14 championships, has been raced to more titles since the inception of the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars Championship in 1960.

Kostecki, who last year extended with DJR through 2030, said he was “honoured” to be offered the number by the team.

“This is a huge honour but it is also, without question, a huge responsibility,” the 2024 Bathurst 1000 winner said.

“The history of #17 in this country is immense and I’m absolutely humbled to be able to race my Shell V-Power Mustang with such an iconic number this season.

“These past 12 months with the Shell V-Power Racing Team have allowed me to learn even more about the history of Dick, Dick Johnson Racing and the significance of #17 in Australian motorsport.

“When the number became available heading into this year, I was honoured to be offered the chance to race with #17 and cannot thank Dick, Ryan and the Ralphs for this opportunity.

“Sydney is not far away, and sitting on the grid for the opening race, looking at the #17 will be a special moment for me in my career, that’s for sure.”

The #17 is also second on the wins list for numbers with 84, behind only the #1’s 192 wins. However, it hasn’t been carried to victory lane since September 2022, when Davison won at Pukekohe.

“Brodie is a champion in his own right and for him to be racing with #17 is also a very proud moment for me as well,” Johnson said.

“We know what he’s capable of, we know the quality of driver that Brodie is so it made complete sense to pass the #17 on to him knowing that he’s fresh, ready and excited to show the rest of the grid what he’s got in 2026.

“I’m also really proud to see Rylan carry the #38 with the team this year – it’s a number Brodie took on proudly and means a great deal to me, so seeing Rylan debut as a full-time main game driver this year with this number will be an exciting prospect.”

Executive Chairman Dr Ryan Story summed up the #17 as an embodiment of DJR itself, saying: “When you think of Dick Johnson Racing, you instantly think about the number 17.

“#17 is synonymous on track for resilience, tenacity, success and a never surrender attitude. Revered as much as it is feared. Because that's Dick Johnson. That's Scott McLaughlin. And that's most certainly Brodie Kostecki.”

Kostecki will shake down his new #17 Mustang next week, before the 2026 season begins at Sydney Motorsport Park on 20-22 February.