Kostecki blitzes Shootout for first Gen3 pole

BRODIE Kostecki has scored the first pole position of the Repco Supercars Championship’s Gen3 era at the Newcastle 500.

The 25-year-old had topped Friday practice and qualifying earlier on Saturday, earning the right to be the last out in the one-at-a-time Top 10 Shootout.

Kostecki watched on as a series of drivers posted incredibly close times; the top five separated by just 0.0042s before his lap.

The Erebus Camaro driver though delivered a sublime run; a 1:11.8481s putting him 0.1520s clear of previous fast-man Cameron Waters.

Just 0.3951s separated all 10 drivers, making it the closest Shootout in Supercars history.

“I’m really enjoying my time in these new Gen3 cars,” said Kostecki, who now has two career Supercars poles.

“It really comes down to the effort that the whole team has put in, they worked through Christmas and New Year’s and they have put together an absolutely awesome piece.”

“It’s great to start off the season strong, we have a gruelling race coming up so we’ll make a few changes and see if we can tidy it up a little bit.”

Earlier the first five runners – James Golding, Scott Pye, Andre Heimgartner, Broc Feeney and Cam Waters – had all gone to P1 with their laps.

The next four – David Reynolds, Tim Slade, Shane van Gisbergen and Chaz Mostert – then all came out on the wrong side of the tight times before Kostecki blitzed to the top.

Van Gisbergen’s issue was the most obvious; an inside-front lock-up at Turn 2 resulting in a missed apex and an eventual sixth in the order.

Feeney and Slade will share the second row of the grid ahead of Reynolds, van Gisbergen, Mostert, Heimgartner, Pye and Golding.

The 250km race is set to commence at 3:20pm local time.

RESULTS: Top 10 Shootout for Race 1, Thrifty Newcastle 500