V8 Supercars news: Brodie Kostecki heads home to Perth as championship leader
Supercars leader Brodie Kostecki may be a shock leader so far, but the Erebus ace says he is far from done as he heads home with the orange stickers on the No. 99 Coca-Cola Camaro.
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Shock Supercars series leader Brodie Kostecki has declared his championship candidacy as the Erebus ace eyes further race victories following a breakout performance at the Melbourne SuperSprint.
Kostecki, 25, banked his first and second Supercars wins at Albert Park to go with a further two podiums.
His stellar weekend in Melbourne not only earned him the coveted Larry Perkins Trophy, it also installed the No. 99 Coca-Cola Camaro as the outright series leader in the drivers’ championship.
“It was definitely exciting to put the orange numbers on the car and get my two race wins, but for me it’s job not done yet,” Kostecki said.
“There’s lots of rounds to go, so it’s eyes forward for me and the focus is on trying to win more races throughout the year – I want to have a really successful year for the team.”
Teammate Will Brown’s strong weekend could have been much better if he did not spin out in the Albert Park final while battling with Walkinshaw’s Chaz Mostert for the race lead.
Still, the power pairing has put Erebus atop the teams championship and the two Coca Cola Camaros appear ready to challenge the all-conquering Red Bulls at Triple Eight.
Touted as one of the pre-season dark horses entering the Gen3 era, Kostecki has established himself as one of the genuine title threats in 2023.
The championship leader’s lowest finish so far this season is sixth, and he has already stood on the podium five times to go with two poles.
It’s an enviable early record but the West Australian wants more.
He knows if he is to truly challenge the likes of reigning champion Shane van Gisbergen over a 12-round season, consistency is key.
Round three can’t come quick enough for Kostecki, who will return home for the Perth SuperSprint at the end of the month with the orange numbers on his car for the first time ever – and a chance to extend his championship lead.
“The form is there, the car is there, the team is there – I seem to be there – so we’ll see if we can continue that (form),” he said.
“I’m definitely excited to be going back home and going there as championship leader as well is going to be pretty cool. I have lots of friends and family there so it will be a pretty big round for me and I’m definitely looking forward to it.
“I’ve got a pretty big job to do to try and keep those orange numbers on there.
“There’s plenty more races to come and that means plenty more races to win.”
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Originally published as V8 Supercars news: Brodie Kostecki heads home to Perth as championship leader
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