Kostecki and Stewart confused by Wood penalty

By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 13 April 2025
For the second day in a row Brodie Kostecki is wondering about stewards decisions with WAU boss Bruce Stewart also frustrated at Ryan Wood’s penalty.
For the second time in as many races Kostecki went door to door with a WAU Mustang fighting for the lead.
After battling with Chaz Mostert on Saturday in a contest that went unpenalized, the DJR recruit went head to head with the sister WAU entry of Ryan Wood.
The pair went side by side through the fast Turn 8 and Kostecki lost out, finding the dirt before also going off at the following corner and dropping to seventh.
Wood carried on, but also lost track position, parting the seas for Matt Payne and Cameron Hill.
Unlike on Saturday, the WAU driver received a 5s penalty for the incident.
However, after not being happy for the lack of action on Saturday, Kostecki remains confused with the calls made by Motorsport Australia driving standards advisor Craig Baird.
“It was a bit unfortunate and just saw Woody and he is pretty devo. I do not know what he really did wrong,” Kostecki, who finished fourth said.
“I did not say anything on the radio and they still gave him a 5s penalty which is interesting.
“I got ran off the road yesterday but no one got a penalty so I don’t really understand it at some points.
“The Jet Courier Mustang was fast in the first stint, but for some reason we lost all the balance in the second stint. I am not sure what happened.
“I ran wide coming out of the pits and it took three or four laps to get the stuff off my tyres and it was just a whirlwind down after that.
“Still proud of the team. Everyone is working really hard and we are slowly getting there.”
WAU CEO Stewart did not say much, but did not hide his opinion in the press conference and suggested he will communicate with Baird.
“I would love to talk more about today’s incident but I wont,” he said.
“I will just leave it for discussions behind doors, but to say I am frustrated would be an understatement.”
Wood ended up finishing the 61-lap affair down in 11th, but after breaking through for a first podium, Stewart is still full of praise for his young charger.
“We are equally proud of our young Kiwi protégé,” he said.
“Woody has taken a well step working closely with Chaz and they have a really positive relationship.”
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
Race 10 Qualifying 1 Brodie Kostecki 1:25.6303; 2 Cameron Hill +0.0122; 3 Anton De Pasquale +0.1009
Top 10 Shootout 1 Brodie Kostecki 1:25.7052; 2 Anton De Pasquale +0.1677; 3 Ryan Wood +0.1947
Race 10 (61 laps) 1 Matt Payne 2 Cameron Hill +3.1941 3 Chaz Mostert +8.2887
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