Kostecki delivers on post-Grand Prix vow

In Sydney, Brodie Kostecki was 0.6s off the pace in practice. In Melbourne, he was 20th twice, 1.5s and 1.2s down.

In Taupō on Friday, after rolling out seventh in Practice 1, he was just 0.04s off top spot in the afternoon session.

While there are three qualifying sessions, a Shootout and three races to come, it’s early proof that the star Dick Johnson Racing recruit is making progress.

Speaking to Supercars.com after the Grand Prix, Kostecki admitted he wasn't happy with how poorly he was starting weekends.

In what is only the 27-year-old’s third round with the Shell V-Power Racing Team, Kostecki has made the strongest start yet on what was a mixed day for many drivers and teams.

There’s plenty of speed to find up and down the order. Ryan Wood’s Practice 2 time was a new lap record, yet he dropped 0.2s at the last corner on his fastest lap compared to earlier in the session.

Chaz Mostert also has pace to burn; he was better than his sixth place finish due to time lost at Turns 2 and 3 on his fastest lap. Cameron Hill was fastest through the Turn 7/8/9 sector, and Cam Waters was quickest through Turn 11.

Then, Both PremiAir cars used their new tyres early in Practice 2, while David Reynolds went out on the Super Softs and nearly completed a full flyer before coming back into the pits.

Kostecki being in the post-practice press conference was visual proof he could be in the mix this weekend, yet the 2024 Bathurst winner insisted there’s plenty more work to be done.

“The team has been doing a great job of trying to bring fast race cars to the track, and we showed up today a lot better than what we have in the past in Practice 1,” Kostecki told media on Friday.

“So, I think we’re slowly chipping away… there’s still a bit of work to do. I still don’t quite have the feeling that I want in the Jet Couriers Mustang yet.”

Back-to-back Boost Mobile Qualifying will get underway from 10:25am NZST/8:25am AEST.