Coca Cola Racing by Erebus’ Brodie Kostecki has delivered a spectacular performance in Race 17 at the Townsville 500, clinching a well-deserved podium finish.
Starting from P4, Brodie held his ground while his teammate Will faced a temporary setback, slipping to P11 on the opening lap. However, Will set impressive lap times to regain a position inside the top ten.
As the race unfolded, Brodie faced a slight blow, dropping to P6. Nevertheless, his relentless hunt paid off as he made a remarkable move to overtake Thomas Randle on lap 13, securing a commendable P5.
On lap 28, Brodie made a strategic pit stop from P2, followed closely by Will. The race took an unexpected turn on lap 35 when debris on the track from Cameron Hill’s car prompted the deployment of the safety car. Car 99 reacted swiftly, stopping for fuel and fresh tyres. However, due to limited fuel intake capacity, an additional pit stop would be required, leaving the car under-filled by 1-litre. In contrast, Car 9 remained on track, assuming the race lead for the restart on lap 38.
Following the restart, Brodie received instructions to make some moves, and he did just that, executing a brilliant display of driving prowess by moving from 14th to 4th on the track during his middle stint. Meanwhile, Will continued to impress with his speed, climbing to P3 before his second pit stop on lap 57.
With drivers employing different strategies, Brodie embarked on his third and final pit stop on lap 62, opting for a quick splash and dash. As the race entered its closing stages, Brodie engaged in a thrilling battle with Broc Feeney for the final podium spot. Brodie got past Feeney on lap 69, and just seven laps later, in a brilliant move, he further elevated his position by passing Andre Heimgartner, securing the second step on the podium.
Meanwhile, Will overtook Bryce Fullwood on the penultimate lap to secure an impressive sixth position at the race’s conclusion.
Brodie’s effort marks his best result since Race 8 in Perth and his most successful performance at the challenging Townsville Street Circuit.
The team now looks ahead to Sydney Motorsport Park in three weeks’ time.