The key moments that won Bathurst for DJR, and left another team in tears

Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood's faces conveyed their astonishment as they stood atop their Ford Mustang at Mount Panorama. The Dick Johnson Racing duo had the 2026 Bathurst 1000 at their mercy, but a single pit stop mishap seemed to have ended their hopes. However, Kostecki's prowess shone through, and the motorsport gods blessed DJR with a wild and tumultuous finish.

Herein lie the key moments that determined the outcome of the Bathurst 1000. For the first 125 laps, the number 17 car demonstrated exceptional performance. Starting second on the grid, Kostecki and Hazelwood raced flawlessly to amass a significant lead with 36 laps remaining. It was at this juncture that the DJR team summoned Kostecki for his second-to-last stop of the race.

Disaster struck when they opted to change the brakes, an issue plaguing multiple teams due to the scorching temperatures and relentless pace at Mount Panorama. Unfortunately, the team encountered difficulties changing the brakes on the front-right of the car. As a result, Kostecki had to return to the mountain in fifth position, leaving the leaders far behind and the victory seemingly out of reach.

With each lap of green flag racing, the race appeared to be a battle between Zach Bates (Matt Stone Racing, number 10) and Anton De Pasquale (Team 18, number 18). Bates, the 22-year-old Supercars rookie who claimed pole position, had his lead diminished by De Pasquale as they approached the final pit stop phase. Bates had tires that were 10 laps older, and he was significantly lower on fuel than De Pasquale.

Team 18 decided to execute an undercut, forcing Bates to pit sooner than De Pasquale. With Bates stationary for 15 seconds longer than De Pasquale, De Pasquale gained a substantial advantage. As the safety car roared into action, De Pasquale led, followed by Bates in third and Kostecki in fourth. De Pasquale had misfortune in the form of insufficient fuel, leaving the Team 18 crew desperate for a solution.

When the safety car returned to the pits, a three-lap sprint for victory ensued. De Pasquale made a brilliant start, widening the gap between himself and Bates while Kostecki pursued a fuel-saving strategy. Bates' fortunes took a turn as he slipped from second to fourth place, his chances of winning dwindling rapidly. With only one lap left, the number 18 car had a final opportunity to secure the win.

De Pasquale, co-driver Lee Holdsworth, and the Team 18 crew held their breath, hoping there was enough fuel in the tank. Alas, De Pasquale's Chevrolet ran out of fuel, and Team 18 was left in tears and devastation. On the neighboring garage, fans roared with disappointment. Kostecki's triumph was bittersweet, as he acknowledged the mountain's role in shaping the race's outcome, acknowledging that "Mount Panorama chose Kostecki and Hazelwood on Sunday, but made sure they worked very hard for it."