Kostecki to run champion's #1 in comeback

Reigning Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki will run the #1 when he returns to the saddle of his Erebus Motorsport Camaro in New Zealand.

In major news confirmed Monday, Kostecki will return with Erebus at the upcoming ITM Taupō Super400, having sat out the Thrifty Bathurst 500 and MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint.

In Kostecki’s absence, Todd Hazelwood drove for the team, albeit with the original #99 on the window.

Kostecki carried the #99 to championship victory last year, and with the title, was eligible to run the champion’s #1 for his title defence.

Hazelwood tested with the #1 on the car in pre-season testing, before rolling out with the #99 at Mount Panorama and Albert Park.

An Erebus spokesperson confirmed to Supercars.com that the #1 will indeed return to the grid, with Kostecki also to test with the #1 on the window at Winton Motor Raceway this week.

It ends a spell on the sidelines for the #1, which was last used full-time by Jamie Whincup in 2018.

Scott McLaughlin (#17) and Shane van Gisbergen (#97) opted to keep their regular numbers following their title wins. However, van Gisbergen did run the #1, albeit as a one-off, in Adelaide 2022 as a tribute to Holden.

Kostecki had always planned to run the champion’s #1, saying in Adelaide last year: "It's the best way to represent what the team's done this year, and what I've been able to accomplish.

"It's time we bring back the number one."

Erebus is fifth in the teams' championship standings heading to the inaugural Taupō event on April 19-21. Fans are encouraged to secure their ticket options, with Saturday and Sunday general admission and grandstand allocations exhausted.