Sandown 500: Kostecki wins Race 1 and books Adelaide Grand Final
The newsroomUpdated on November 7, 20264 minBrodie Kostecki (Ford) wins Race 1 of the Supercars Sandown 500 ahead of Matt Payne and Cameron Waters, and secures his place in the Adelaide Grand Final.
Key point
On Saturday at Sandown, Brodie Kostecki won all 79 laps of Race 1 ahead of Matt Payne and Cameron Waters, and secured a place in the Adelaide Grand Final.
Brodie Kostecki (Dick Johnson Racing, Ford Mustang) won Race 1 of the Sandown 500 in the Supercars championship on Saturday, over 79 laps. He finished 5.3626 s ahead of Matt Payne (Grove Racing) and 19.326 s ahead of Cameron Waters (Tickford Racing), and is the first driver locked into the Adelaide Grand Final, according to Speedcafe.
Pole for Payne, a messy Shootout
Matt Payne took pole in the Top 10 Shootout with a 1:09.0254, ahead of Cameron Waters (1:09.1050, 0.0796 s slower) and Brodie Kostecki (1:09.1375). Chaz Mostert went off at Dandenong Road and recorded 1:23.2407, so he started tenth.
A race chopped up by Safety Cars
Payne led into the first corner, and Will Brown (Triple Eight) was in front by lap 8. On lap 13, Aaron Cameron's Mustang (Blanchard Racing Team) caught fire entering Turn 2, bringing out the first Safety Car. At the lap 20 restart Brown was still in front, and Kostecki attacked him.
The pair clashed twice. On lap 25 Kostecki forced Brown onto the grass; on lap 36 Brown locked his rear wheels at Turn 4, spun and dropped to the back of the field. He was then handed a 15-second penalty for tipping Cameron Hill into the tyre barrier: he crossed the line 18th and was classified 20th.
A second Safety Car followed on lap 39 after Jackson Walls hit the wall near Dandenong Road; Ryan Wood, who had hit him on lap 29, received a 15-second penalty and finished 17th. At the lap 42 restart, Waters, who had saved fuel, emerged in the lead ahead of Kostecki and Payne. On lap 43 Kostecki passed him at Turn 6, and Waters held on to third.
Race 1 top 10
- Brodie Kostecki (Ford)
- Matt Payne (Ford), +5.3626 s
- Cameron Waters (Ford), +19.326 s
- Chaz Mostert (Toyota), +19.9124 s
- James Golding (Ford)
- Anton De Pasquale (Chevrolet)
- Cooper Murray (Chevrolet)
- Andre Heimgartner (Toyota)
- Macauley Jones (Toyota)
- Zach Bates (Chevrolet)
No Triple Eight Mustang finished in the top 10: Broc Feeney was 11th, Will Brown 20th and Jackson Walls 23rd.
Who can still reach Adelaide?
The Finals Series is decided at Sandown before the Grand Final. Gap to the cut line after Race 1: Matt Payne +104, Brodie Kostecki +62, Chaz Mostert +11, Broc Feeney +1, Cameron Waters -1, Anton De Pasquale -38 and Will Brown -88. Waters is therefore the top driver outside the cut, one point back.
Sunday: Race 2
Qualifying at 11:20, the Top 10 Shootout at 12:05 and the start of Race 2 at 15:30, Melbourne time.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Race 1 of the Sandown 500?
Brodie Kostecki (Dick Johnson Racing, Ford Mustang), ahead of Matt Payne (Grove Racing) by 5.3626 s and Cameron Waters (Tickford Racing) by 19.326 s.
Who was on pole?
Matt Payne, with a 1:09.0254 in the Top 10 Shootout, 0.0796 s ahead of Cameron Waters.
What does the win give Kostecki?
According to Speedcafe, he is the first driver locked into the Adelaide Grand Final.
When is Race 2?
On Sunday: qualifying at 11:20, the Top 10 Shootout at 12:05 and the start of Race 2 at 15:30, Melbourne time.
Sources
- Speedcafe — Sandown 500 Race 1: Kostecki wins
- Speedcafe — Finals Series standings after Race 1
- Speedcafe — Sandown 500 Top 10 Shootout
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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