What's new in 2025: Kostecki in a DJR Ford
In the lead-up to the new season, Supercars.com is highlighting some key on- and off-track changes coming in 2025, continuing with a major silly season move.
The biggest driver change of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship is down at Dick Johnson Racing, with Brodie Kostecki officially a Shell V-Power Racing Team driver as of January 1.
After racing Commodores and Camaros since his main game debut in 2019, Kostecki arrives in 2025 as a Ford driver, adding to the Blue Oval's hopes.
Kostecki is no stranger to Ford, having raced Falcons in his early days in the Dunlop Series. However, he will race in 2025 with the weight of DJR on his shoulders, joining the team amid a lean run for the famous squad.
The move
A series champion and Bathurst winner with Erebus Motorsport, Kostecki moves away from familiarity and into the Ford family.
Kostecki called Erebus home since 2020, when he infamously raced for the team in the Bathurst 1000 and forced Jamie Whincup into a shock error.
In the years since, Kostecki's star grew, becoming series champion in 2023 off the back of six wins and 10 pole positions, before adding a Great Race victory in 2024.
It was in 2024, though, where Kostecki and Erebus drifted apart, leading to a shock absence at the first two rounds. He returned, but wouldn't be a factor for the championship, nor did he challenge for wins until the enduros.
By then, his blockbuster move to DJR had been announced, and Kostecki returned to his best. At 27, he's got plenty of competitive years ahead, but will be hoping DJR can turn the tide.
Kostecki's hopes
DJR has claimed the one win in the Gen3 era, courtesy of De Pasquale in Townsville in July 2023. One win in 52 Gen3 races, for a team which spearheaded the Ford programme, simply won't sit well at Stapylton.
Kostecki replaces Anton De Pasquale, who joins Team 18 at the expense of Mark Winterbottom. While De Pasquale has big shoes to fill, Kostecki's move carries the most weight of all drive changes, given the focus on DJR.
Dr Ryan Story has swung the changes since returning to DJR at the end of 2023, scoring Kostecki's signature, seeing De Pasquale move on, making various leadership changes, and signing a customer chassis deal with Erebus.
Story has seen DJR hit the highest heights, leading the team to championship and Bathurst glory in the Penske era. The team's fans want results, and Kostecki was signed to help deliver.
Will Davison may be closer to the end of his career than the start, but was retained for 2025, highlighting the team's faith in the two-time Bathurst winner. However, Kostecki will be viewed by some as the team's lead driver, and he will be expected to deliver. New champion Will Brown has already claimed Kostecki can fight for the title.
Story and Kostecki have both earmarked the new Finals Series as DJR's way into 2025, and there's no knowing how DJR will start the new season. If they are winning within the first few rounds, it will be some achievement.
However, if podiums remain hard to come by, the pressure will be firmly on. How patient will Kostecki, the team, and Ford fans be?
Other driver change case studies in the Gen3 era
Between 2023 and 2024, there were two moves of drivers changing manufacturers; Nick Percat and David Reynolds, both from Ford to Chevrolet.
Percat returned to winning form with Matt Stone Racing, finishing eighth in the championship. Reynolds, however, went backwards at Team 18 in 2024, having himself fought for trophies with Penrite Racing in 2023.
In an off-season of eras ending, Kostecki becomes one of three driver-manufacturer changes in 2025, alongside De Pasquale and Richie Stanaway, who moves from Penrite Racing to PremiAir Racing.
Story is hopeful De Pasquale can rebuild himself at a team under less pressure, while Stanaway will be under pressure to make his latest full-time chance count. Kostecki, two years younger than De Pasquale and six years Stanaway's junior, has more time under his belt.
Tickets for the season-opening round in Sydney, on February 21-23, are on sale now.
