Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood have thrown down a serious warning shot ahead of next month’s Repco Bathurst 1000, clinching an emphatic win in the Airtouch 500 at The Bend. The defending Bathurst champions were all business in South Australia, delivering Shell V-Power Racing a long-awaited endurance victory — and their own second on the trot.
Hazelwood’s opening stint was nothing short of masterful. The co-driver put the #38 Mustang at the front on Lap 15 after snatching the lead from pole-sitter Jamie Whincup. From there, the Mustang never looked back. The early move set the tone for what would become a clean, clinical performance by the Kostecki-Hazelwood pairing, who were simply untouchable.
“The car was a little nervous on entry to the corners,” said Kostecki, after locking in his 10th career win. “You can’t be nervous when you drive for such a great team like Shell V-Power Racing, and I get to share the car with a bloke like this who did an awesome job.”
Endurance Class: Back-to-Back Brilliance
This marks the duo’s second consecutive enduro win, following their famous Repco Bathurst 1000 triumph last year in a Chiko Erebus Camaro. Now driving for Ford in 2025, the switch seems to have done nothing to disrupt their rhythm — if anything, they’re better than ever.
For Shell V-Power Racing, the win also carries historic weight. It’s Ford’s first endurance victory in Supercars since the 2019 Bathurst 1000, also claimed in a Shell V-Power Mustang. The blue oval fans finally have something to cheer about in the endurance arena again.
Whincup and Feeney Falter from Pole
In stark contrast, it was a race to forget for Jamie Whincup and Broc Feeney. Despite starting from pole, their race unravelled due to a costly fuel delivery issue in pit lane. The problem scuppered any chance of a comeback, and the Red Bull Ampol Racing Camaro limped home in 19th.
That result could have major implications heading into Bathurst. Feeney’s lead in the Supercars Championship has now been cut to 158 points over Matt Payne, with reigning champion Will Brown 188 points behind in third. Waters holds onto fourth, but has now locked in his place in the upcoming finals series, alongside Chaz Mostert and Kostecki.
Ford Flexes with All-Blue Oval Podium
Ford’s dominance at The Bend wasn’t limited to just the winners. The podium was an all-Ford affair, with Cam Waters and Mark Winterbottom finishing second, while Matt Payne and Garth Tander claimed third. Kostecki, however, still managed to create his own slice of history — the win was his fourth straight at The Bend, after sweeping the sprint races there in 2023.
Behind the top three, Will Brown and Scott Pye made an impressive recovery from 16th to finish fourth, becoming the first Camaro across the line. Nick Percat and Tim Slade also surged up the order, jumping from 11th to fifth.
Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard led early but fell back due to a four-stop strategy, ending up eighth. Just ahead of them, Ryan Wood and Jayden Ojeda grabbed sixth, with Cooper Murray and Jobe Stewart in seventh. Rounding out the top ten were Thomas Randle and James Moffat, plus Anton De Pasquale and Harri Jones.
Bathurst Beckons
The Airtouch 500 not only delivered a thriller but also set the stage for the most anticipated race of the year — the Repco Bathurst 1000. With one round to go before the Supercars Finals Series kicks off on the Gold Coast, the fight for form and momentum is heating up.
Kostecki was quick to praise his teammate and team after the win: “The stint before last the car was a little bit too edgy for me, so we tuned it up and were able to just manage the gap to Cam and bring it home. Super stoked for everyone at Shell V-Power Racing.”
Now, with confidence soaring and momentum on their side, Kostecki and Hazelwood will arrive at Mount Panorama in October not just as defending champions, but as the team to beat.
