Holden rookie Jake Kostecki ready to turn up Darwin’s heat against the Supercar big guns

Back-to-back Darwin Supercar rounds loom as a big test for first year Commodore driver Jake Kostecki

Jake Kostecki will steer a Supercar around Hidden Valley for the first time.

SIX supercar races in four days in the Top End is a tough task for any driver, particularly when Darwin’s heat and humidity comes into play.

That is the task facing first year Holden driver Jake Kostecki when he tackles Hidden Valley’s 2.9km track over the next two weekends.

Only 20, but a veteran of go-kart racing since he was seven and three years in the Dunlop Series, Kostecki is in a shared car arrangement with fellow rookie Zane Goddard.

That means Albert Park, Perth, Townsville, Darwin and Sandown are his testing grounds while teaming with Goddard in the Pirtek Enduro Cup races.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it, with the weather and Darwin as a whole being a great place, we’re hopeful of getting some good results up there,’’ Kostecki said.

“Because I do every second round where I split the driving with Zane, we’re not going to have the best results in the championship.

“But Darwin is another matter. I’ve driven go-carts right next door a couple of times and watched the Supercars go around.

“We’ve got a car that’s capable of getting around Hidden Valley pretty well, so hopefully that will carry some points.’’

Kostecki rates the Hidden Valley track with the questions it regularly asks of drivers.

Darwin is hosting the Supercars for a 23rd and 24th time over the next two weekends, proof of the Valley’s longevity when the big bangers come to town

“It’s a small track, but it’s definitely tricky with its long straight, hairpins, sweepers and big braking zones,’’ Perth-born Kostecki said.

“So it’s everything you want in a racetrack and it’s right there in Darwin.’’

This weekend’s Bet Easy Triple Crown includes a single 38-lap race on Saturday and two races on Sunday.

Tickets can be purchased through www.darwinsupercars.com.au/tickets/.

The popular skydeck and Monster Platform have sold out for the Triple Crown.

The August 15-16 Supersprint round will follow a similar racing format.