One of the most remarkable finishes to the Repco Bathurst 1000 in recent memory saw the pairing of Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood achieve their second win in three years. A slow pitstop with less than 40 laps remaining looked to have ended the Shell V-Power Racing Team’s chances, but in a “Bradbury” moment, they were the beneficiaries when the race leader ran out of fuel on the final lap.
Qualifying their #17 Ford Mustang second behind Bathurst rookie, Zach Bates (Matt Stone Racing Chevrolet), Kostecki and Hazelwood seemed to be in control for much of the race. However, a problem replacing one of the brake rotors on Lap 124 dropped Kostecki behind Anton De Pasquale (Team 18 Chevrolet).
Concerns over how much fuel was left in De Pasquale’s Camaro were alleviated when Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw TWG Racing Toyota) crashed on lap 156, bringing out the first safety car of the race. That allowed De Pasquale to conserve some fuel, but when the race went green with three laps remaining, doubts over whether the leading car would make the distance returned.
Kostecki, third at the restart but on fresher tyres than those ahead of him, made his move, passed Bates and set off after De Pasquale. On the final run up Mountain Straight, De Pasquale run out of fuel, allowing Kostecki - and ultimately the rest of the field - to pass the stricken Camaro.
At the chequered flag, Kostecki and Hazelwood won by just over a second from Will Brown and Scott Pye (Red Bull Ampol Racing Ford), with Bates and Aaron Seton completing the podium.
“We executed so well up until that second last pitstop with the brake change, but like I’ve said, the mountain always chooses the winner,” an elated Kostecki said.
“We definitely had the fastest car today, so I’m super proud of everyone at the Shell V-Power Racing Team - this Ford Mustang was on rails. I can’t believe we’ve won Bathurst in the 17!” Kostecki added, referring to Dick Johnson’s famous racing number (Kostecki and Hazelwood’s 2024 win was in the #1 Erebus Motorsport Camaro).
