Brodie Kostecki, now full-time with Dick Johnson Racing, has certainly created a stir. He laid down a blistering new all-time qualifying record at Mount Panorama just days ahead of the crown jewel Bathurst 1000. Kostecki managed the fastest lap of the race at two minutes and 4.030 seconds. He beat his 2023 PB by an entire 0.241 seconds! This incredible feat makes him a favorite to join the next top-10 shootout this Saturday.
Kostecki, who won last year’s Bathurst 1000 with co-driver Todd Hazelwood, said he was thrilled to set the record. He stated, “It’s a pretty incredible feeling to have this place to yourself, leaving nothing on the table (in the shootout).” His performance is a testament to his extraordinary talent, focus and drive. He is looking for a second consecutive win in one of Australia’s most illustrious motorsport spectacles.
Chaz Mostert, driving for Walkinshaw Andretti United, showcased his speed in the final practice session on Friday but finished sixth in qualifying. Even as someone who didn’t check off as winning the title favorite, Mostert is certainly still a force to reckon with. His teammate Broc Feeney from Triple Eight Race Engineering, who is pursuing his 15th pole of the season, commented on the competitive nature of the qualifying rounds: “Anyone in the top 10 that does a good job on their lap, they have a chance to put it on pole.”
Outside of Kostecki and Mostert, three other drivers really showed out during the qualifying runs. Anton De Pasquale of Team 18 was the next quickest, the fourth-fastest time. It was on junior formula pathways that rookie Cooper Murray from Erebus Motorsport shone in his debut season.
Broc Feeney emphasized the tight competition among the top contenders, noting, “I think we all have a chance. There’s what? A tenth covering six cars?” This quote highlights the extreme margins that regularly determine victory at Bathurst.
As excitement mounts for Saturday’s shootout, Kostecki’s record-setting lap has put the bar high for the other competitors taking aim at it. The shootout will be pivotal in determining the starting order for the Bathurst 1000. This race weekend is one of the most scenic – and unique – highlights of the Supercars calendar!
