By: Shahzaib Shahzad
Brodie Kostecki clinched the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship in dramatic fashion during the penultimate round at the VAILO Adelaide 500. The 26-year-old West Australian sealed the title in Saturday’s race after a chaotic opening lap eliminated his closest rival, Shane van Gisbergen.
Key Race Moments:
Van Gisbergen’s title hopes were dashed early after colliding with Kostecki’s Erebus Motorsport teammate, Will Brown, who had been forced into the wall following contact with Anton De Pasquale. This incident ended the championship battle just as it began, allowing Kostecki to focus on finishing the race. Crossing the line in sixth place, Kostecki became the 26th driver in the 63-year history of the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars Championship to claim the title.
Historic Achievements:
Kostecki’s championship victory comes in only his third full-time season. He is the youngest champion since Scott McLaughlin in 2018 and the first West Australian to win the title since Garth Tander in 2007. Moreover, he is the first Australian-born champion since Jamie Whincup in 2017, marking a significant milestone for the homegrown talent.
Race Results:
While Kostecki’s championship win stole the headlines, Cameron Waters of Tickford Racing dominated the race, leading an all-Ford podium. Waters was followed by David Reynolds in second and Thomas Randle in third.
Post-Race Reactions
Reflecting on his achievement, Kostecki expressed mixed emotions:
“You don’t want to win a championship when your contender is knocked out of the race, but it’s been a whirlwind of a year. We’ve worked so hard to do what we’ve done today,” he said.
Kostecki also highlighted the significance of delivering Erebus Motorsport its first drivers’ championship since team owner Betty Klimenko founded the team 13 years ago:
“For myself to deliver her first championship is something that I’m never going to forget.”
Focus Shifts to Teams’ Championship:
With the drivers’ title secured, the attention now turns to the teams’ championship. Erebus Motorsport currently leads Triple Eight Race Engineering by 131 points, with one race remaining to determine the top team.
Kostecki’s victory not only solidifies his place in Supercars history but also underscores the strength of Erebus Motorsport in the highly competitive series. As the championship season wraps up, all eyes will remain on the team standings for the final race showdown.