Brodie Kostecki hit with drive-through penalty in Sandown finale
Kostecki dropped out of effective fourth after start procedure breach
DJR driver locked in Adelaide spot with Saturday victory
A drive-through penalty for Brodie Kostecki triggered Finals drama early in the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 finale, with the Shell V-Power Ford stung early.
Kostecki qualified for the bp Adelaide Grand Final courtesy of victory on Saturday, surviving a race of attrition, chaos and controversy.
The #17 Shell V-Power Ford started fourth for Sunday’s race, and ran fourth in the opening stint behind Brodie Kostecki, Anton De Pasquale and Cooper Murray.
Officials noted a potential start procedure breach for the #17 Ford, which was then investigated.
Kostecki was subsequently hit with a drive-through penalty over the breach, with the 2023 Supercars champion responding immediately on lap 12.
Per Supercars start procedure rules: “At the end of the reconnaissance lap and when approaching the grid, each Car must keep its engine running until it has stopped at its allocated grid position.”
Replays showed Kostecki idling to his grid box, having turned the engine off in his car, which constitutes a breach.
Kostecki dropped to the back of the pack after serving the penalty.
Motorsport Australia stewards confirmed that the breach occurred at the end of the reconnaissance lap.
The report reads: "The Stewards received a report from Supercars’ CTM stating that the engine of Car 17 was turned off whilst approaching the grid at the end of the reconnaissance lap. The report highlights Car 17 engine speed was 0 RPM and the ground speed was 31.8 km/hr coasting down to 0 km/hr over 7 seconds.
"The Stewards find this amounts to a breach of the Rules. The Stewards impose a PLP to reflect that the conduct could lead to a sporting advantage being gained."
The Bathurst champion served his first compulsory pit stop on lap 31, rejoining at the rear of the field.
