BRODIE KOSTECKI CONFIRMED TO MAKE TRANS AM DEBUT

After initial speculation, it is confirmed that Erebus Supercars driver Brodie Kostecki will drive Tim Shaw’s Camaro Trans Am at the Queensland Raceway this coming weekend on August 5-7.

It was earlier reported by AUTO ACTION that Shane van Gisbergen was reported to drive the Camaro, but the pin was pulled on that project by van Gisbergen’s Triple Eight team. 

“It’s disappointing for us.  We put in a lot of effort into getting Shane in the car,” Shaw said at the time, citing “political pressure” as the reasons behind the project’s canning.

But Shaw is now delighted at the coupe of having a talented Supercars driver such as Brodie getting behind the wheel of his Camaro.

“In the wake of SVG being restricted, the opportunity came up for Brodie to drive my Trans Am car,” said Shaw.

“During a conversation with Barry Ryan (Erebus Motorsport team principal), it seemed like a good fit. Brodie did a couple of seasons in NASCAR style cars. 

“He is a very talented driver and has a good relationship with the team at Norwell Motorplex, where our car is based.”

Shaw added a little of the conversation he had with Ryan about his Erebus driver taking part in the Turtle Wax Trans Am series.

“Barry is a hardcore racer and keen to promote his drivers. He wants to see his drivers in race cars and see them get miles. Will Brown races in TCR, so this is not a strange thing for him to allow his drivers to sample other, different machinery.

“The more they race, the more the drivers and their teams build their fanbase. I love Brodie and Barry’s attitude, it’s great for motorsport.”

 Kostecki, a promising up and coming Supercars star, and an extremely versatile driver, gained a hard fought podium at The Bend in race 23 at the weekend’s SuperSprint event.

It’s somewhat of a return to his American roots for the West Australian racer, after he pursued a career in NASCAR in the K&N Pro series East, where he finished 18th in his second year, which included two pole positions.

Supercars Brodie Kostecki to get behind the wheel of Tim Shaw’s Trans Am Camaro

Kostecki spoke about the Trans Am similarities that will hopefully assist him in Queensland.

“The Trans Am cars are pretty similar to what I drove in the States a few years ago,” said Kostecki. 

“They have the same tyre’s and the cars are built relatively the same. It might take me a little while to get back in the swing of it, but I’m really looking forward to it. 

“It’s exciting to get the call up from Tim to drive his car. I will race anything with four wheels and a roof. That’s what I’m all about.

“I love hard racing, and this is a very competitive series up front. It’s great that I have the chance to dip my toes in a new class and have a go.

“I’m pretty competitive, I want to go and do the best I can. I want to come home with a trophy, but we’ll see how the weekend unfolds.”

The upcoming fifth round race will see a talented field take part in what is already a tight fought series, with talented young Aussie Racing Cars driver Tom Hayman announced for Seton’s mustang.

The race can be seen live on Stan Sport over Saturday and Sunday.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action.