DJR explains Kostecki strategy gamble
Bold call fell just short of being a winner for Brodie Kostecki
Kostecki finished just 0.2s behind Friday winner Cam Waters
Kostecki stayed out for six more laps after Waters stopped
A bold strategy call fell just short of being a winner for Brodie Kostecki, with a plan thrust into action after a poor start for the #17 Mustang.
Sitting on the pole, a slow start dropped Kostecki to fourth. Matt Payne picked off Chaz Mostert for second on lap 3, with Kostecki jumping Mostert into third.
On the following lap, Kostecki passed Payne at the same corner for second, and took off after Waters.
Payne and Waters stopped on laps 17 and 18, with Kostecki and engineer George Commins opting to press on. Commins kept Kostecki out until lap 24, and the #17 Ford rejoined in fourth.
Kostecki then picked off Kai Allen before following Payne, and made the move with two laps remaining for second. Kostecki threatened to deliver a miracle, before falling just short.
When asked by Supercars.com if there was a plan to run long, Commins said: “We had planned beforehand that if somebody went a bit earlier than what we were wanting to do, then we'd look for like a little five, six lap overlap and try and come back.
"And that's what we did.”
Kostecki had enough pace to threaten his Ford rivals, in what was a superb rebound from missing the Darwin finale through illness.
“He was quick. Obviously would've been better to just lead off the start and probably would've driven away and we had to fight back a bit,” Commins added.
“We felt that was the best chance.”
Speaking in PIRTEK Victory Lane, Kostecki added: “I saw Cam pitted on the lap we were going to pit, I didn’t want to come out behind him and have the same tyres.
Kostecki cut his deficit to the championship lead from 203 to 179 points, with Payne deposing Broc Feeney as championship leader.
