'Unacceptably dangerous': DJR, Walkinshaw TWG respond to wild clash
Brodie Kostecki, Chaz Mostert clashed late in Christchurch finale
Kostecki tumbled down to 18th, Mostert reclassified to 17th with penalty
Kostecki engineer hits out over "unacceptably dangerous" Mostert move
The Chaz Mostert/Brodie Kostecki incident has lit the fuse in pit lane, with Kostecki’s engineer dubbing the reigning champion’s move as “unacceptably dangerous.”
In a dramatic conclusion to the ITM NZ Double Header, reigning champion Mostert and Shell V-Power Racing Team star Kostecki clashed late in the Christchurch finale, seeing the latter’s Ford fly through the Turn 2/3 infield.
Kostecki came to rest in a cloud of dust, and luckily continued on. Walkinshaw TWG Racing star Mostert finished fourth, but was reclassified 17th after receiving a 30-second penalty.
Both drivers had their say over the incident. Kostecki was first to front up, saying: "I actually got a fair way up the inside, I think he saw that I was coming pretty late and tried to turn in, but I was already up a fair way.
"So that put me up onto the grass there, and I didn't run him off the road on exit or anything, I gave him a car [width]. I'm not about that.
"And then the rest happened, so interesting. I'm glad I didn't take out any other cars obviously, and I believe there's a flag post there as well, so glad nothing serious happened.”
Mostert, who later apologised to Kostecki, suggested inter-locking wheels delivered the final blow.
Kostecki's engineer George Commins was hesitant to lean too far into the incident, but made his feelings clear towards the nature of the clashes.
“The official line is no comment at the moment. I just made sure [Kostecki] was alright. But obviously very, very dangerous,” Commins said on the Equip Super Cool Down Lap podcast.
When asked if he was thankful Kostecki wasn’t struck by another car, Commins replied: "Yeah, for sure. And also very close to a marshal post, you know, just unacceptably dangerous.
“Obviously we were just disappointed to lose the championship lead, but you know, we'll just come back stronger at the next one.”
WTWGR CEO Bruce Stewart wheeled his crew and drivers into the team's container immediately after the race. Speaking afterwards, Stewart said more will be discussed when the team returns to Australia.
“We discussed it briefly, and [Mostert] got a penalty,” Stewart said on the Equip Super Cool Down Lap podcast.
"So you debrief those things and go through shoulda, coulda, woulda, but you can't change it now. So, it looked like there was a bit of tit for tat, but I wouldn't want to call it.
“We'll just have a chat about it back at the workshop."
When asked if there was a fresh rivalry with DJR, Stewart replied: "You'd have to ask them that. For us, I'm sure there's not."
Kostecki and Mostert are now second and 11th in points heading to Tasmania.
