Shell V-Power Racing Team leader Brodie Kostecki will continue the great Dick Johnson Racing tradition by contesting the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship with the much revered number 17.
Both Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustangs for Kostecki and new recruit Rylan Gray were revealed at the squad’s Family Open Day, with the rookie set to compete in the number 38.
Number 17 is one of the most iconic in Australian motorsport having been used by Dick Johnson during his long stint racing Fords from 1977 until his retirement in 1999.
Johnson is a five-time Australian Touring Car Championship winner having added four Bathurst 1000 victories in what was stories career honoured by induction into the Australian Motorsport and Supercars Hall of Fames.
Kostecki taking on the 17 adds further prestige as he joins Johnson’s son Steve, John Bowe, Scott McLaughlin and most recently Will Davison to the roster of drivers to race with it.
“This is a huge honour but it is also, without question, a huge responsibility,” Kostecki said.
“The history of #17 in this country is immense and I’m absolutely humbled to be able to race my Shell V-Power Mustang with such an iconic number this season.
“These past twelve months with the Shell V-Power Racing Team have allowed me to learn even more about the history of Dick, Dick Johnson Racing and the significance of #17 in Australian motorsport.
“When the number became available heading into this year, I was honoured to be offered the chance to race with #17 and cannot thank Dick, Ryan and the Ralphs for this opportunity.
“Sydney is not far away, and sitting on the grid for the opening race, looking at the #17 will be a special moment for me in my career, that’s for sure.”
Johnson is excited for Kostecki to continue the success of 17.
“Brodie is a champion in his own right and for him to be racing with #17 is also a very proud moment for me as well,” Johnson summarised.
“We know what he’s capable of, we know the quality of driver that Brodie is so it made complete sense to pass the #17 on to him knowing that he’s fresh, ready and excited to show the rest of the grid what he’s got in 2026.
“I’m also really proud to see Rylan carry the #38 with the team this year – it’s a number Brodie took on proudly and means a great deal to me, so seeing Rylan debut as a full-time main game driver this year with this number will be an exciting prospect.”
Gray’s 38 was raced by Kostecki last year after joining the team and was number, which the 2023 Supercars champion raced in Super2.
The young gun enters the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship as last year’s Dunlop Super2 Series winner and enters with much expectation surrounding him.
The Repco Supercars Championship gets underway on February 20-22 at Sydney Motorsport Park.