Brodie Kostecki Supercars The Bend win became the headline moment as Kostecki partnered with Todd Hazelwood to claim the first endurance event of the Supercars season at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia. Competing together for Dick Johnson Racing in a Ford Mustang, Kostecki and Hazelwood dominated the 500km contest, marking a rare achievement after winning last year’s Bathurst 1000 in a Chevrolet Camaro with Erebus Motorsport, making this back-to-back endurance victories in different cars and teams.
Ford pilots Lock Out Podium Spots
Kostecki and Hazelwood led the field home as Ford teams filled all three podium positions, underscoring the marque’s strength at The Bend. Cameron Waters and Mark Winterbottom, racing for Tickford Racing, finished second, while Matt Payne and Garth Tander of Grove Racing took third place. Cameron Waters put pressure on Kostecki during the final stages, closing in early in the last stint but ultimately finishing 3.01 seconds adrift.
Challenging Conditions for the Leading Pair
Both drivers faced hurdles on their way to the top step. Kostecki described the car’s behavior as they fought for control and speed:
“The car was a little bit nervous on entry into the corners,”
—Brodie Kostecki, Driver
He credited Hazelwood for putting the team in a strong position as the race unfolded:
“He [Hazelwood] gave us a good margin in the race, we tuned it up and I was able to manage the gap to Cam.”
—Brodie Kostecki, Driver
Todd Hazelwood, who had to recover from an unsteady start, explained his strategy:
“I didn’t get off the line too well but I knew I had a great car underneath me. I just tried to be patient.”
—Todd Hazelwood, Driver
Triple Eight Faces Setbacks Despite a Fast Start
The day proved challenging for Triple Eight Race Engineering. Will Brown and Scott Pye drove their Chevrolet to fourth place, unable to break into the leading trio despite Pye making significant early progress from 16th on the grid. Their performance stood as the best among non-Ford entries but fell short of podium contention.
In the other Triple Eight entry, Jamie Whincup initially commanded the race after Broc Feeney secured pole position. Hazelwood soon moved ahead, and then a problematic pitstop—specifically, a malfunctioning fuel coupling—left the car severely low on fuel. Whincup had to pit again just 10 laps later, dropping down to 26th. Feeney then endured an extra stop and their efforts concluded with a 19th place finish, well off the leaders.
Top Finishers and Midfield Battles
Nick Percat and Tim Slade captured fifth spot in the Matt Stone Racing entry, with Ryan Wood and Jayden Ojeda coming in sixth for Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford. Cooper Murray, one of the few primary drivers to start, teamed up with rookie Jobe Stewart in the Erebus Motorsport Chevrolet and earned seventh. Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard started eighth, pushed to the front mid-race, but a four-stop approach pushed them down to eighth at the finish in what was the first 500km Supercars race to run without a safety car in 35 years.
Championship Standings and What Lies Ahead
Broc Feeney, despite a difficult race, maintains his lead in the championship resulting from his earlier Sprint Cup triumph, which already guarantees him a place in the Supercars Finals Series. Feeney’s point margin dropped from 341 to 158 over Matt Payne by the end of this round. Will Brown, Cameron Waters, Chaz Mostert, and Brodie Kostecki have also locked in top 10 positions, ensuring their participation in the Finals Series which will decide the 2025 champion.
The next important stop is the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama, running from October 9-12. This event serves as the second Enduro Cup race and the crucial final round before the cut-off for the Finals Cup, bringing extra significance to the weekend.
Noteworthy Performances and Developments
The Ford sweep at The Bend, achieved by the efforts of Kostecki, Hazelwood, Waters, Winterbottom, Payne, and Tander, signals a strong showing for the marque heading into the championship climax. Supplying drama, upsets, and tactical nuances, this 500km contest not only tested endurance but reshaped the Supercars landscape midway through the season.
