The championship momentum continues to swing between the Coca-Cola Racing by Erebus drivers and this evening at Sydney Motorsport Park it was Brodie Kostecki’s turn.
Kostecki dominated the opening race of the weekend from Mobil 1 Optus Racing’s Chaz Mostert and Will Brown in the second Coca-Cola Racing by Erebus after a penalty was applied post-race to Shane van Gisbergen after contact was made between the two at Turn 8.
As a result, van Gisbergen dropped to seventh in the end allowing Truck Assist Racing’s Jack Le Brocq to climb to fourth as Cameron Waters finished fifth after crossing the line third, however the Monster Energy Racing driver was penalised for impeding in pit lane.
Tim Slade finished sixth for Nulon Racing ahead of van Gisbergen, Middy’s Racing driver Bryce Fullwood, Mark Winterbottom in the DEWALT Racing Camaro and teammate Scott Pye driving his Hino-backed example.
Kostecki made a lightening start to set-up the race as polesitter Andre Heimgartner made a slow jump to dropped to the backend of the top 10.
Rookie Cameron Hill was another to take advantage at the start and sat fourth behind Kostecki, Brown and Waters, with teammate Le Brocq playing rear-gunner.
Tyre degradation played its part as most teams elected for a two stop strategy as Heimgartner settled for just one.
A mid-race safety car to retrieve David Reynolds’ Penrite Racing Ford Mustang led to an influx of stops aiding Kostecki, Mostert and van Gisbergen on their two-stop strategies just as Heimgartner’s appeared to win out.
Mostert and van Gisbergen charged forward aided by a 5s penalty for Waters after an unsafe release leading to a radio blow up.
Van Gisbergen from 20th place pushed for the podium in the closing stages, bumping Brown for the final position at Turn 8. This cost the New Zealander 5s courtesy of the stewards.
Those to finish outside the top 10 were Broc Feeney in 11th, Heimgartner 14th, Anton De Pasquale 15th and Will Davison 16th.
Qualifying kicks off the Repco Supercars Championship action tomorrow at 12:35pm AEST.