Brodie Kostecki is AU$50,000 (US$32,700) richer after taking victory in the opening race of the Supercars Grand Final on the streets of Adelaide.
The Dick Johnson Racing driver took the lead early in the race and powered through the rain until lap 21 of the scheduled 32-lap distance, in the first Friday race in the 26-year history of the Adelaide 500 event.
The stoppage was caused when the Tickford Ford Mustang of Thomas Randle aquaplaned into the concrete wall on the outside of Turn 8, moving a four-tonne barrier back nearly a metre. Repairs were promptly conducted but time ran out, causing officials to declare the result.
“It got pretty treacherous towards the end of that stint,” said Kostecki after his third race win of the season.
“I saw Chaz [Mostert] getting pretty close there at the end. I stalled it at the start, which was a bit of a boo-boo and those two guys ahead were racing for a championship, so I didn’t want to do anything silly.”
Mostert was the best of the four title contenders, taking the early lead until Kostecki, who is not in the title fight, flew past. Mostert was content to follow, particularly when Walkinshaw Andretti United team-mate Ryan Wood moved up to a protective third place.
“That was going to be pretty tough, I am happy to stay on the black stuff,” said Mostert. “Brodie was pretty quick at the start and then I found my rhythm. After the pitstop, Brode and I both nearly stuck it in the fence at [Turn] four.
“If it is a bit wet tomorrow, we might have to tune it up a bit. We need a little more performance, I really hope it’s dry.”
Points leader Broc Feeney was in fourth place, the Triple Eight Chevrolet Camaro driver not quite as at home when the track was at its wettest.
The relative positions meant that the near season-long points leader saw seven of the 20-point lead he brought to Adelaide evaporate. After he started from pole position for the 17th time, a record that eclipsed Scott McLaughlin’s 2017 high mark, he led away. However, Kai Allen, one of the other title contenders, took fifth place in his Grove Racing Ford – aided by a 15-second penalty to the driver in front of him, Cameron Waters, after contact with another car early in the race.
Allen’s Grove Racing team-mate Matt Payne was close behind in sixth, ahead of Andre Heimgartner (Brad Jones Racing Chevrolet), Anton De Pasquale (Team 18 Chevrolet) and Will Brown.
Brown had a tough Friday. He qualified 12th and made a decent start, but a first lap spin dropped him to the tail of the field, from where he mounted yet another of his trademark recovery drives. By the flag, and after Waters was dropped because of the penalty, he was classified in ninth place.
Wildcard NASCAR driver Austin Cindric started 24th of the 25 cars and finished 23rd in his Supercars debut for Tickford Racing.
Under the finals points system, Feeney still leads but now on 5089 points, from Mostert on 5076 and Brown on 5041. Allen is in fourth place on 5036.
The Supercars and drivers will return to the circuit on Saturday at 10:05am for Qualifying for the 33rd race of the season. The Top 10 Shoot Out is scheduled for 12:35pm, with the 78-lap race set for 3:30pm (all times are Australian Central Daylight Saving Time).
Supercars Adelaide – Race 1 results
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– The Autosport.com Team
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