How Mostert and Kostecki reflect on Taupo tussle
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 12 April 2025
Brodie Kostecki and Chaz Mostert put on a grand battle for victory for Race 9 at Taupo, but it was not without contact.
The DJR and WAU stars passed each other on five separate occasions fighting for the lead, producing a stunning spectacle either side of the compulsory stop.
However, it was not without drama with both drivers making door to door contact on multiple occasions.
Having earlier made a forceful pass at Turn 4, Mostert made the decisive move at the same complex two laps later, but not without further rubbing.
In the end Kostecki had to settle for third, nursing a damaged #38 Mustang and losing second to teammate Will Davison as Mostert powered to a 6s win.
Kostecki revealed some frustration for being on the losing end of the battle with significant wheel damage and Mostert benefitting with a big win.
“It was a bit unfortunate. Just a bit of front to rear and then blow my right rear out,” Kostecki told Fox Sports.
“She is missing a few spokes, so I am actually surprised I hung on that far.
“It happened with Chaz unfortunately. Boxing has three judges for a reason.
“I suppose if it looks good for TV they just let it play on.
“It is just different every time in my opinion,” Kostecki replied when asked by Jess Yeates if he is happy with the play on call.
“If it looks great on TV and both cars continue its fine, but it sort of destroyed my car and took me out of the race.”
Kostecki reiterated in the press conference the need to be consistent.
“We are racing half baked at the moment,” the DJR driver said.
“In some cases, the rules are still there and we have a person that chooses not to adjudicate them at times.
“It was front to rear and then it turned into a big tank slapper and I tried not to spin out.
“We interlocked wheels and many drivers have said for a long time they need to change and Chaz was missing two spokes and I was missing three so it becomes a safety concern.
“The fans want to see races like that and I am fine to race like that, but the rules just need to always be consistent.”
Kostecki’s calls come after drivers had a personal meeting with driving standards advisor Craig Baird on the Thursday Taupo Super440.
Victorious Mostert defended Baird and also explained how he never intended to cause damage to Kostecki.
“We had a chat with Bairdo before the weekend and I agreed with a lot of the stuff he was saying,” the WAU driver said.
“Some drivers were giving him flack for being outcome based but if we don’t have an outcome based thing then how can you justify what type of penalty you give.
“Brodie was on the wrong end on this one where was it my intention to purposely hit him in the rear? No.
“Did I feel like I had a run on him in Turns 3 to 4? Yes. Did I expect him to move slightly at the last second and I couldn’t get out of the way or get out of it at that point for the closing speed? No I couldn’t.
“It was not my intention and I am glad it was play on.
“A lap later Brodie got down the inside of me but he went in pretty deep and went off which offered another opportunity.
“I raced as hard as I could and thought he had better pace so had to be super aggressive at the start of that stint.”
Image: Fox Sports
Taupo Super440
Practice 1 – 1: A. Heimgartner 1:26.8830 2: Anton De Pasquale +0.0258 3: Matt Payne +0.0830
Practice 2 – 1: Ryan Wood 1:25.9778; 2: Brodie Kostecki +0.0435; 3: Thomas Randle +0.0838
Race 8 Qualifying – 1 Matt Payne 1:25.7006; 2 Brodie Kostecki +0.0705; 3 Cameron Waters +0.1646
Race 9 Qualifying: 1 Brodie Kostecki 1:26.3482; 2 Chaz Mostert +0.0712; 3 Broc Feeney +0.1939
Race 8 (37 laps) 1 Matt Payne 2 Cameron Waters 3 Ryan Wood
Race 9 (37 laps) 1 Chaz Mostert WAU 37 56.14; 2 Will Davison DJR 37 +6.4763; 3 Brodie Kostecki DJR 37 +9.1911
Sun 8.35-9.05: Supercars Race 10 Qualifying
Sun 10.50-11.35: Supercars Race 10 Top 10 Shootout
Sun 13.05: Supercars Race 10 (61 laps)
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