Brodie Kostecki/Todd Hazelwood’s Bend defence fell apart
Hazelwood struggled to find grip as rain struck Tailem Bend
Pit speed penalty, high engine temperatures add insult to injury
Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood’s AirTouch 500 at The Bend defence had more hits than Elvis, with Hazelwood labelling the day as “brutal.”
The Kostecki/Hazelwood Ford was a hot favourite heading into Sunday, with Kostecki storming to a brilliant Boost Mobile Pole on Saturday.
The heavens opened on race day, and it spelled disaster for the #17 Ford. Hazelwood bogged down off the line, and struggling for grip, fell back as low as 20th position.
Adding insult to injury, Hazelwood was pinged for speeding at pit entry. The outcome was a 15-second penalty, which wasn’t served until Kostecki took over the car prior to the third Safety Car period.
Kostecki quietly marched back to the front, moving from 23rd on the restart to run as high as 13th.
However, high engine temperatures, caused by a blocked radiator grille, forced an unscheduled stop on lap 70. As mechanics cleaned out the Ford, Kostecki fell off the lead lap, and back down to 23rd.
Kostecki fought back to 17th place at the finish, which became 15th after James Golding’s disqualification, and a post-race penalty for Zach Bates.
The result leaves Kostecki’s Ryco Enduro Cup hopes hanging by a thread heading to next month’s Repco Bathurst 1000, and with it, a shot at 25 bonus points for the Finals.
Crucially, Kostecki cannot finish the regular season first overall. In fact, third may be as good as it gets, with Broc Feeney 184 and Kai Allen 98 points ahead respectively.
Writing on social media, Hazelwood vowed to fight back at the Mountain.
"Wowee, that was brutal. Horrible start to the race, just didn’t have any grip to work with in the early stages,” Hazelwood said.
“Felt like a mobile chicane out there and was flat out keeping it on the island.
"Super disappointed not to convert today into a result. We both felt confident and ready for the fight but clearly wasn’t our day.”
The #17 Shell V-Power Ford’s blushes were spared by a remarkable comeback drive for Rylan Gray/Tony D’Alberto, who combined to finish ninth after D’Alberto aquaplaned off the road and into the wall in the first hour.
