DJR disaster opens door to Zach Bates, Matt Stone Racing
Brodie Kostecki Mustang delayed by slow brake change in stop
Bates, De Pasquale, Will Brown and Jack Le Brocq moved ahead
The Repco Bathurst 1000 swung towards the Chevrolet camp after a slow brake stop for the dominant #17 Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford.
The Brodie Kostecki/Todd Hazelwood Ford was in command of the Great Race when Kostecki came in for a pit stop on lap 125.
However, a slow brake change delayed the Kostecki car, revealing the Zach Bates, Anton De Pasquale, Will Brown and Jack Le Brocq cars in front.
The race had run green to that point, with Kostecki clear in front after his rivals stopped.
The decision to hold the brake change until the final quarter of the race ultimately bit the Ford team, which entered the day searching for its first Bathurst win since 2019.
Kostecki was advised of a fuel advantage by engineer Tom Moore, but the 2023 Supercars champion couldn't hide his frustration over the radio.
The pole-sitting Bates Camaro led De Pasquale, who was closing in on the rising star.
Brown was 6.7 seconds behind De Pasquale, with Le Brocq completing an MSR 1-4.
Behind them, the Broc Feeney and Kai Allen Fords continued to be stung by brake issues, with a brake ducting issue delaying the Allen Mustang.
