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How to tune into Sport NationKostecki heeding SVG lesson in Bathurst 1000 repeat bid
Joanna Guelas, AAP •  October 11th, 2025 7:29 am
Brodie Kostecki is taking nothing for granted ahead of the Bathurst 1000 | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Brodie Kostecki admits he's still haunted by a "pretty big lesson" taught to him by Supercars heavyweight Shane van Gisbergen at the Bathurst 1000.
Kostecki will take a big step towards pulling off back-to-back Bathurst 1000 wins if he turns his provisional pole into the real deal in Saturday's top-10 shootout.
The Dick Johnson Racing star set a new Gen3 qualifying record at Mount Panorama on Friday to lead the final 10, putting down a lap time of two minutes and 4.030 seconds.
Should Kostecki triumph in the shootout, he will join Peter Brock and Allan Moffat as the third driver in history to snare three consecutive poles at the Great Race.
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But Kostecki said he won't get ahead of himself, still thinking of when he was upstaged as pole-sitter by 2023 winner Van Gisbergen off the starting line.
He faces tough competition from championship leader Broc Feeney, who is eyeing his 15th pole of the season and was second fastest on Friday.
Walkinshaw Andretti United racer Ryan Wood made the shootout as third-fastest, joined by fellow stars Cam Waters and Chaz Mostert.
"I got taught a pretty big lesson here in 2023 by Shane, (that) you win the race on Sunday," Kostecki said.
"I've been trying to focus on that as much as possible and to give ourselves a pretty big window to work in."
Now dominating NASCAR street races, Shane van Gisbergen won Bathurst in 2023 with Richie Stanaway | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Three-time Supercars champion van Gisbergen was the last driver to secure consecutive wins at Bathurst, becoming the first in 15 years by taking out the 2023 and 2024 races.
Kostecki said a parity issue between the Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaros left him lacking confidence ahead of the shootout.
Recent tests by Supercars on the barometric pressure on the engines found the Mustangs were at a disadvantage, but changes have yet to be implemented.
"We need to get our upgrade to fix the deficit to the Camaros, (we're losing) two k's an hour on average," Kostecki said.
"It's a bit disappointing that nothing's been done about it after a report's been published. It's just crap."
Hot on Kostecki's heels on Friday, Broc Feeney will be chasing his 15th pole spot of the season | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Kostecki was joined in the top three by fellow Ford driver Wood, but said the qualifying lap speed "doesn't matter" in terms of race pace.
Wood and co-driver Jayden Ojeda have rarely been off-pace to start the weekend and are fast shaping as dark horses for Sunday's 161-lap race.
"We want to be in contention and I feel like we are," Wood said.
"I don't feel like me and 'Juice' think we're dark horses, so we'll go out there and try and prove a couple of people wrong."
Drivers will have two more practice sessions on Saturday before the shootout gets underway at 7.05pm (NZDT).
