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Kostecki fought double vision in courageous Shootout lap

Supercars
12 Oct
"I struggled to pull it up, got both lock lights at one point"
  • Brodie Kostecki staved off double vision in Shootout

  • Kostecki beat Cam Waters to pole at Mount Panorama

  • Reiging champ battled with tyre vibration on lap

Double vision caused by a vibration was a mere hurdle for a resurgent Brodie Kostecki, who sailed to a second straight Great Race pole position on Sunday.

Kostecki beat Cam Waters in a thrilling Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout to secure his second consecutive Repco Bathurst 1000 pole.

However, it wasn't easy for the reigning champion, who battled with a tyre vibration on his Chiko Chevrolet Camaro en route to a 2:05.5119s.

When asked what the best part of his lap was, Kostecki said: "When I got the chequered flag. It was actually a bit hard of a lap to be honest, I had a really bad tyre vibration, it was really hard coming onto Conrod.

"I was starting to get double vision from the vibrations, I struggled to pull it up, got both lock lights at one point.

"It's just stellar work from the whole crew, and to get this pole for them. Like I said it's a long day tomorrow, we'll get back to work and focus on tomorrow."

Later, he added: "Just put brand new [tyres] on and feels like I’m in a salt shaker. It was a bit surprising then, to be honest. That was the worst I felt.

“It was getting pretty hard to see at 270km/h plus. Going into the kink at the Chase was a bit interesting. So just something we’re going to have to keep our eye on tomorrow.”

Kostecki entered Saturday as a favourite for pole, having only missed out in Friday qualifying after tagging the wall across the top of the Mountain.

"My engineer George [Commins, Race Engineer] was just telling me to go out there and do a lap and you'll be fine, just put it in the Shootout for tomorrow and you'll be right," said Kostecki, who claimed his first pole since Adelaide 2023.

"He was really good to me yesterday, just kept me nice and calm. I wasn't feeling well yesterday, and I took a while to come in today, I actually watched the co-driver session from the house.

"It's been one of those weekends, but hopefully tomorrow we have a good day, and that can be the cherry on top."

Kostecki and Waters will launch from the front row at 11:30am AEDT on Sunday.

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