Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood have claimed a remarkable second Bathurst 1000 victory together, surviving a late setback before taking advantage of a last-lap fuel failure to win the 2026 race for Dick Johnson Racing. Few expected such a finish.
Credit: SpeedCafe.com.au
The 17 Ford Mustang looked strong throughout the 161-lap contest, but its afternoon nearly unravelled during a late pit stop. Kostecki entered the lane leading by around 20 seconds, only for a difficult front brake change to cost the crew valuable time. The delay dropped the pair from first to fifth and left them facing a sizeable deficit with the finish approaching.
Kostecki responded with an aggressive charge. He worked his way past Will Brown on Lap 155 to move into third, just before a crash for Chaz Mostert brought out the race’s first Safety Car. The incident erased the gaps and set up a three-lap sprint to the chequered flag.
Anton De Pasquale led the restart, with Zach Bates second and Kostecki third. Kostecki quickly passed Bates at Murray’s Corner, while Brown also found a way through. De Pasquale then opened a gap at the front, appearing to have the race under control as the field began its final lap.
But the Bathurst 1000 delivered one more twist. De Pasquale’s Team 18 Chevrolet Camaro ran out of fuel on Mountain Straight, slowing dramatically and leaving the door open for Kostecki. The Ford driver swept past to take the lead and secured victory by just over a second.
Credit: Supercars.com
Brown and Scott Pye finished second for Triple Eight Race Engineering, while Bates and Aaron Seton completed the podium for Matt Stone Racing. De Pasquale and co-driver Lee Holdsworth were classified 26th after their late retirement.
For Kostecki and Hazelwood, the win marks their second Bathurst triumph together, following their 2024 success. It was also a significant result for Dick Johnson Racing, whose crew had to recover from a costly stop and keep pressure on the leaders through the closing stages.
Kostecki praised the team’s performance and said the Mustang had been exceptionally quick. Hazelwood described the emotional swing from the pit-stop setback to victory, while crediting Kostecki’s driving in the final laps.
After hours of strategy, tyre management and patience, the race came down to a handful of corners and a fuel calculation. Kostecki and Hazelwood made the most of the opportunity, turning a difficult recovery into an unforgettable Bathurst win.