Bathurst 1000: Brodie Kostecki wins maiden title, Richie Stanaway best of Kiwis

Reigning Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki has led from start to finish over 161 laps to win his first Bathurst 1000.

The Erebus driver fended off red-hot rival Broc Feeney in the six-hour-long marathon at Mount Panorama on Sunday to win Australia’s biggest domestic motorsport prize.

Starting from pole position with co-driver Todd Hazelwood, Kostecki was uncatchable before a Matt Payne crash resulted in the race’s first and only safety car with 28 laps remaining.

The 26-year-old proved his mettle against Feeney, paired with four-time Bathurst winner Jamie Whincup, in a sprint showdown to the finish line.

Kostecki won by just 1.35 seconds.

Following the race Kostecki said he could feel Feeney behind him all the way.

“Broc was breathing down my neck the whole time, and they were 32 shootout laps that was just balls to the walls the whole time.”

An emotional Hazelwood said: “I think I’m hallucinating! I’m just absolutely speechless!”

George Commins, Kostecki’s engineer, was left on the verge of tears.

“I can’t believe it.

“It’s incredible – it’s so hard to win this race.

“To win the championship last year, Bathurst this year… he’s an incredible driver.

“I can’t ask for anything more.”

Feeney’s Red Bull teammate and championship leader Will Brown finished third with co-driver Scott Pye.

With incidents at a minimum, this year’s instalment of the Great Race was officially the fastest-ever race finish in the iconic event’s history.

The 161 laps were completed in just under six hours for the first time in the race’s 66 editions.

Richie Stanaway was the best of the New Zealand representation, finishing ninth.

Bathurst 1000 top 10

1. Brodie Kostecki/Todd Hazelwood (Erebus Motorsport)

2. Broc Feeney/Jamie Whincup (Triple Eight Race Engineering)

3. Will Brown/Scott Pye (Triple Eight)

4. Cam Waters/James Moffat (Tickford Racing)

5. Chaz Mostert/Lee Holdsworth (Walkinshaw Andretti United)

6. James Golding/David Russell (PremiAir Nulon Racing)

7. Anton De Pasquale/Tony D’Alberto (Dick Johnson Racing)

8. Jack Le Brocq/Jayden Ojeda (Erebus)

9. Richie Stanaway/Dale Wood (Grove Racing)

10. Cam Hill/Cam Crick (Matt Stone Racing)