Tickford announces Jake Kostecki split
Tickford Racing has confirmed that Jake Kostecki will not return with the team for the coming Supercars season.
Kostecki joined the Campbellfield-based team from Matt Stone Racing last year.
The Perth-born driver was one of two drivers — along with Thomas Randle — to join Tickford in 2022.
Kostecki, 22, scored top 10s in Perth, Darwin and New Zealand aboard his TRADIE Ford.
However, he was also involved in a number of incidents, and crashed out of the last race in Adelaide.
That race proved to be his final start with Tickford.
It’s the second time Tickford has made an off-season change in three years.
Kostecki joined on a multi-year deal
Tickford parted ways with Lee Holdsworth in January 2021 when the team downscaled to three cars.
Kostecki made his Supercars debut as a teenager alongside cousin Brodie in the 2019 enduros.
He earned a drive with MSR in the team’s SuperLite programme for 2020 before signing on for a full-time campaign in 2021.
That paved the way for a multi-year deal with Tickford, which would ultimately last one season.
In a statement, Tickford said it will announce a replacement driver “in due course”.
"Tickford Racing and driver Jake Kostecki have decided to part ways by mutual agreement and will not continue with their partnership in the 2023 Supercars Championship season,” the statement reads.
"Tickford wishes Jake well in his future endeavours.
Kostecki score three top 10s in 34 starts
"The team will make further comment on its 2023 driver line-up in due course."
Super2 champion Declan Fraser has been linked to the vacancy despite Zak Best — Fraser’s 2022 title rival — being on Tickford’s books.
Should either Fraser or Best fill the vacancy, Tickford will be calling up a driver with recent Super2 title fight experience.
Fraser opted against joining MSR for 2023, with Triple Eight Super2 teammate Cameron Fraser eventually signing on.
If Fraser gets the nod, Tickford will have three Super2 champions — along with Cam Waters and Randle — in its stable.
The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle on March 10-12.
Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.
