Photo: Supercars

Brodie Kostecki takes second Albert Park win despite investigation

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Brodie Kostecki claimed his second Supercars victory of the Albert Park weekend, after being cleared by the race stewards for an unsafe release.

The Coca Cola by Erebus driver, who took his maiden win on Friday, led from start to finish from pole position, heading defending champion Shane van Gisbergen by just over two seconds at the flag.

Kostecki’s second victory in a row means he now sits just one point behind the championship leader, Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert, who finished fourth.

Off the line, Kostecki led the way from Brown, who immediately fell into the clutches of Bryce Fullwood as the field negotiated the first corner.

Behind, there was drama as Van Gisbergen was pushed wide at tun four by Chaz Mostert and James Golding likewise by Mark Winterbottom at turn five. Tickford Racing’s James Courtney and Shell V Power Racing’s Anton de Pasquale were also in strife; the former’s car returning to the pits on fire, while the latter was sent spinning at turn five by Macaulay Jones.

The safety car came out as the mess was cleared up, with Kostecki maintaining his lead over Brown at the head of the field.

Brown was the first of the leading runners to make his pit-stop on lap nine, but the pit-lane produced almost as much chaos as the opening lap on track had done.

Fullwood was released into the path of Declan Fraser in an unsafe release, before Fullwood himself had a face full of Will Davison who was also released unsafely.

Davison then hit a wheel from Red Bull Ampol Racing, sending it into the Formula One pit-lane.

The remainder of the race was largely incident free with Kostecki coming home ahead of van Gisbergen and Will Brown who made it two Erebus Racing Chevrolets on the podium.

Behind Mostert, Andre Heimgartner was fifth for R&J Batteries Racing, ahead of Truck Assist Racing’s Jack Le Brocq.

Seventh was Broc Feeney, with Tim Slade heading the Tickford Racing duo of Thomas Randle and Cam Waters.

Davison finished outside of the top 10 in 11th, one place ahead of Fullwood as both were handed penalties, with Fraser ultimately just behind in 13th.

The fourth and final race of the weekend is scheduled to take place tomorrow at 10:25 local time (02:25 CET).