Kostecki pips Le Brocq in dramatic Practice 2

Brodie Kostecki has completed a NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint double in what was a dramatic Practice 2.

Series leader Kostecki pipped Matt Stone Racing’s Jack Le Brocq by 0.0190s in the final pre-qualifying hit out.

The top six drivers were covered by 0.09s, with the top 11 covered by 0.2s.

The 30-minute session featured a number of incidents, headlined by a close call between James Courtney and David Reynolds.

Courtney caught a train of cars into Turn 6 in the closing minutes, and was forced to avoid a weaving Reynolds.

Reynolds later apologised to Courtney over the dramatic incident, with the #5 Snowy Rivers Caravans Mustang forced into the gravel.

Earlier, Courtney’s Tickford Racing teammate Declan Fraser and Brad Jones Racing’s Andre Heimgartner got too close for comfort at Turn 2.

Fraser was sent into the grass, with the incident placed under investigation.

Shell V-Power Racing Team driver Anton De Pasquale was also sidelined for much of the session due to a clutch issue.

De Pasquale, who ended up 25th, had to be pushed back to the garage after coming to a halt in pit lane.

Kostecki led the way with a 51.1721s in his #99 Coca-Cola Camaro, having also paced Practice 1.

It was an all-Chevrolet top three, with Le Brocq (#34 Truck Assist Camaro) and Will Brown (#9 Coca-Cola Camaro) behind Kostecki.

Thomas Randle (#55 Castrol Mustang) was the first Ford driver home in fourth, with Mark Winterbottom (#18 DEWALT Camaro) fifth.

Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang) led the opening times with a 52.3842s, before Brown and Kostecki made it an Erebus one-two.

Le Brocq began to turn up the wick with consecutive fast times, first with a 51.4041s and a 51.2434s.

The #34 Truck Assist Camaro was the benchmark at the midway point ahead of Winterbottom and Broc Feeney (#88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro).

At that time, it was an all-Chevrolet top nine — all the while, De Pasquale had been forced into the garage.

In the final 10 minutes, Shane van Gisbergen (#97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro) moved up to third on a 51.3299s, before jumping to second with a 51.2637s.

Teams bolted on new tyres and Kostecki jumped up from 10th to first with a 51.1721s, with Brown slotting into second on a 51.2263s.

With the chequered flag flying, Le Brocq split the two Coca-Cola Chevrolets with a 51.1911s, with Randle jumping to fourth.

Winterbottom, who earlier had a moment at the Turn 4 hairpin, was fifth ahead of van Gisbergen, with Nulon Racing duo James Golding and Tim Slade sandwiching Broc Feeney.

Todd Hazelwood (#3 CoolDrive Mustang) was 10th, having been third fastest in Practice 1.

Mostert ended up 12th behind Le Brocq’s teammate Cameron Hill (#35 Truck Assist Camaro).

Reynolds was classified 16th, with Courtney 20th.

Cars will return to the track for knockout ARMOR ALL Qualifying at 12:55pm local time.