- Brodie Kostecki won by 1.35 seconds
- He watched Broc Feeney win his first Bathurst title
- Kostecki started on pole alongside co-driver Todd Hazelwood
Reigning Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki led more than 161 laps from start to finish to win his first Bathurst 1000.
The Erebus driver fended off red-hot rival Broc Feeney in the six-hour marathon at Mount Panorama on Sunday to win Australia’s biggest domestic motorsport prize.
Starting from pole position with co-driver Todd Hazelwood, Kostecki was out of reach before a crash by Matt Payne resulted in the first and only safety car of the race with 28 laps to go.
The 26-year-old proved his mettle against Feeney, teaming up with four-time Bathurst winner Jamie Whincup, in a sprint duel to the finish.
Kostecki won by just 1.35 seconds.
Reigning Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki (right) led more than 161 laps from start to finish to win his first Bathurst 1000
Starting from pole position with co-driver Todd Hazelwood (right), Kostecki was no longer able to catch him
Kostecki was left speechless after the race, saying: ‘I just can’t believe it, I’m in awe right now’
Feeney’s Red Bull teammate and championship leader Will Brown finished third with co-driver Scott Pye.
‘I just can’t believe it. I’m impressed right now,” Kostecki said.
“Broc was breathing down my neck the whole time. It was just balls to the walls the whole time.
‘It’s funny here. If you slow down your pace a little, you might even get into trouble.
“I just knew that if I just did shootout laps every lap, I knew I wouldn’t make a mistake.
“It’s definitely a redemption from last year.”
Feeney, who agonizingly missed out on victory, praised Kostecki and Hazelwood but said confidently he would one day return to get back on the ‘top step’.
“I drove my heart there. I didn’t leave anything on the table,” Feeney said.
Kostecki showed his mettle by beating Broc Feeney in a sprint showdown towards the finish
The pair climbed on top of their car after being crowned winners and celebrated with fans at Mount Panorama after the marathon race
Kostiecki claimed the result was a ‘redemption from last year’ after losing first place despite starting first on the grid
“These guys next to me, Brodie and Todd, absolutely ruined it today – they were faultless.
‘We’ll be back one day. We’re going to stand on the top step.’