All eyes on victory for Kostecki
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 11 October 2025
After becoming the first driver in 46 years to take a hat-trick of poles, Brodie Kostecki is solely focused on winning another Great Race.
Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood will start the Bathurst 1000 from pole yet again as they chase back-to-back Great Race glories.
On a day when much of the focus was off track, Kostecki pushed everything aside to get DJR its 150th pole with a 2:04.0413.
He joins the likes of Allan Moffat (1970-72) and Peter Brock (1977-79) as the only drivers to take three straight Bathurst 1000 poles.
The 2023 champion released his emotions as he crossed the line after a build up where much of the focus was on his comments about engine parity than his driving.
As Bathurst Day dawns, the only thing that is on Kostecki’s mind is lifting the Peter Brock Trophy, but he was honoured to join some greats.
“It is really special. They are names I have always looked up to and it is an honour to be in that group,” he said.
“I am now just really focused on tomorrow.
“We have a good race car and I was fortunate to taste that last year and it will be interesting with the weather.
When asked about how the engine situation, Kostecki did not go into detail
“We will just let tomorrow play out and go from there,” he said, while also giving his podcast a plug.
One thing he did reveal was the fact that Dick Johnson could not even bring himself to watch.
“It was really nice to walk back with Jill (Johnson) but apparently, DJ was way too nervous and went out the back and cracked a cold one, but I know he was cheering me on for sure,” Kostecki said.
He also opened up that 2014 Bathurst winner Paul Morris has been a big part in helping him compartmentalise everything before jumping into the car and giving it everything.
“I have a great mentor in Paul Morris, who taught me a lot, and I am lucky to have him in my corner,” Kostecki said
Alongside him again is Hazelwood, who is expected to start the race from pole.
Although it ended up being a brilliant and pivotal stint that set up Bend 500 victory, he did not get a great launch and has learnt his lesson.
“What happened at the bend is in the past and I am ready for tomorrow if I start the race. Not 100 percent sure what we will do yet,” Hazelwood said.
“But I am prepared and excited for tomorrow.
“Brodie has done a fantastic job and I am feeling comfortable with the car.
“You learn from your mistakes and I wont do that again, so definitely not looking back and looking forward.
“We will try to do what we did last year with a great team around me.
“We have put a lot of emphasis on our race car but we don’t know how tomorrow will play out, which is the beauty of the Great Race.”
Image: Peter Norton
2025 Bathurst 1000 schedule
Thursday, October 9
PRACTICE 1 1: R. Wood/J. Ojeda 2:05.1029 2: A. De Pasquale/H. Jones +0.4236 3: K. Allen/D. Wood +0.8132
PRACTICE 2 1: Scott Pye/W. Brown 2:06.8395 2: David Russell/J. Golding +0.1461 3: Tony D’Alberto/W. Davison +0.6345
Friday, October 10
PRACTICE 3 1: B.Feeney/J.Whincup 2:04.9763 2: R.Wood/J.Ojeda +0.0341 3: W.Brown/S.Pye +0.0784
PRACTICE 4 1: C. Mostert/F. Coulthard 2:04.6591 2: N. Percat/T. Slade +0.0754 3: B. Kostecki/T. Hazelwood +0.1210
QUALIFYING 1 Brodie Kostecki 2:04.0307 2 Broc Feeney +0.0064 3 Ryan Wood +0.0560
Saturday, October 11
PRACTICE 5 1: Scott Pye 2:05.6647 2: Jamie Whincup +0.0442 3: Mark Winterbottom +0.3516
PRACTICE 6 1: B.Feeney/J.Whincup 2:04.9698 2: C.Mostert/F.Coulthard +0.1463 3: C.Waters/M.Winterbottom +0.3354
TOP TEN SHOOTOUT 5:05 PM – 5:50 PM
Bathurst Day, October 12
WARM UP 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
THE GREAT RACE 11:45 AM (161 laps)
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