Champion Kostecki to run #1 in title defence

Brodie Kostecki will run champion's #1 in 2024 title defence
Kostecki made his 2023 title official on Sunday in Adelaide
The #1 was last run full-time by Jamie Whincup in 2018

Brodie Kostecki will run the #1 when he aims to defend his title in 2024, with the newly-minted champion helping Erebus Motorsport to an historic double in 2023.

The Perth-born driver entered the VAILO Adelaide 500 as the hunted, with Shane van Gisbergen 131 points behind with 300 points available.

Kostecki clinched the drivers’ title on Saturday, with the championship officially sealed in Race 28, which was won by Penrite Racing rookie Matt Payne.

The champion's #1 was last used full-time by Jamie Whincup in 2018, with Scott McLaughlin and van Gisbergen opting to keep their regular numbers following their title wins. Van Gisbergen did run the number, albeit as a one-off, in Adelaide last year to farewell Holden.

When asked if he will run the #1 next year, Kostecki replied: "Yeah, most definitely.

"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 also brought home the teams’ championship on Sunday, with the victory aided by van Gisbergen’s second DNF in as many days.

Van Gisbergen’s problems were academic for Kostecki, who celebrated his title on the Adelaide pit straight before being buried in a wave of confetti.

All told, Kostecki missed the podium on both days, but ended the season 323 points clear of NASCAR-bound van Gisbergen.

"I am stoked to get both the teams' and drivers’ championships, knowing how much it means to the team,” Kostecki said.

“It is all down to the hard work that has gone in all season, and everyone deserves it.

“A lot of people counted us out halfway through the season when we went through a bit of a lull, but we came back bigger and stronger with great car speed and awesome pit stops.

“We just kept it all together which is why we are here today because everyone behind me have put in so many hours. We are truly humbled to be here and it is starting to sink in now.”

The #99 Coca-Cola Camaro driver won eight races, claimed 10 pole positions, and scored a season-high 18 podiums. It was a stark contrast to Kostecki’s first two full-time seasons, which featured five podiums from 71 starts without any wins.

With Gen3 arriving, Kostecki claimed the first pole of the year in Newcastle, and was a force over one lap and in races throughout the season.

The title was fiercely fought between Kostecki, van Gisbergen, Broc Feeney and Will Brown in the first half of the year. Come the OTR SuperSprint, and Kostecki won all three races to put his rivals on notice — a weekend he cited as key to his title aspirations.

“It was probably the Bend when we won all three races,” he said.

“I believed in the team the whole way through and had glimpses of success even with the older generation of car.

“But to start with the first pole of the Gen3 era and end it with the last pole is great. It is just an awesome feeling."