How Kostecki and Hazelwood Won the Bathurst 1000

The race was far from straightforward for the No. 17 Ford Mustang. Kostecki and Hazelwood had been competitive throughout the event, but a late pit stop threatened to end their hopes of winning the Great Race.

During a stop on lap 125, the team's planned brake change took much longer than expected. The delay allowed several rivals to move ahead, including Zach Bates, Anton De Pasquale, Will Brown and Jack Le Brocq.

For a time, the Ford looked to have lost its chance at victory. Kostecki nevertheless continued to push, recovering positions and closing on the cars ahead as the final stages approached.

Meanwhile, De Pasquale and Holdsworth had worked themselves into a strong strategic position. Team 18's Chevrolet had a useful fuel advantage over some rivals, and the pair appeared capable of controlling the race to the finish.

That advantage ultimately proved insufficient. A late safety car changed the closing-lap calculations, leaving De Pasquale under intense pressure to conserve fuel while defending the lead.

Final-Lap Fuel Drama: What Happened?

The decisive moment came on lap 161, the final lap of the 1,000-kilometre endurance race. De Pasquale was leading in the No. 18 Chevrolet, with Kostecki charging behind after fighting back from his earlier pit-stop setback.

Team 18 had instructed De Pasquale to maximise fuel saving as the finish approached. The team had hoped to stretch the remaining fuel to the chequered flag, but the late safety car had altered the race's final phase and the fuel calculations became critical.

As De Pasquale reached Mountain Straight on the last lap, the Chevrolet ran out of fuel. The sudden loss of speed opened the door for Kostecki, who passed the stricken leader and took control of the race.

What had looked like a near-certain victory for Team 18 turned into a devastating finish. De Pasquale and Holdsworth were unable to complete the race in contention for the win, while Kostecki and Hazelwood celebrated a remarkable comeback.

The incident underlined the unforgiving nature of endurance racing: speed, pit-stop execution, fuel calculations and changing safety-car conditions can all determine the final result.

Official coverage: Supercars report on Team 18's final-lap fuel failure.

The Safety Car That Changed the Ending

The race had largely progressed without a safety-car interruption until the closing stages. With six laps remaining, Chaz Mostert crashed at Forrest's Elbow, bringing out the safety car and compressing the field.

The interruption left the leading drivers with only a short sprint to the finish after the restart. De Pasquale initially held his position, while Kostecki continued to pursue Zach Bates, who was also fighting for a potential victory.

Kostecki passed Bates at Murray's Corner with three laps remaining. That move placed the Ford in position to challenge for the win if the leader encountered trouble.

The safety car did not itself cause the fuel failure, but it changed the closing-lap situation and left the leading Chevrolet trying to manage its remaining fuel while defending the position. When the car ran dry on the final lap, Kostecki was close enough to take advantage.

Kostecki's Comeback After a Costly Pit Stop

The victory was especially dramatic because Kostecki had already experienced a major setback. During the lap 125 pit stop, the No. 17 Ford lost substantial time when the brake change became complicated.

Several rivals passed the car during the delay, and the team had to rebuild its race strategy. Rather than abandoning its challenge, the Ford crew continued working to put Kostecki in a position to recover.

Kostecki produced a strong late-race push, setting consecutive Gen3 lap records during the closing stages according to Supercars' race report. He also fought his way past Will Brown and Zach Bates as the race developed into a battle for the podium.

His performance ensured that the brake-stop problem did not become the defining moment of the team's day. Instead, the No. 17 Mustang was ready when the unexpected final-lap opportunity appeared.

Read more: How the slow brake stop opened the door to rivals.

Bathurst 1000 2026: Final Podium

The podium featured a mix of established Supercars competitors and emerging talent. Brown and Pye secured second place, while Bates and Seton converted a competitive weekend into a third-place finish after Bates had secured pole position in the Top 10 Shootout.

The result was also significant for Dick Johnson Racing, which returned to the top step at Bathurst for the first time since 2019, according to Supercars' race coverage.

For the complete classification and any official post-race updates, consult the official Supercars website.

What Happened to Anton De Pasquale and Lee Holdsworth?

De Pasquale and Holdsworth had built a strong position in the closing stages and looked capable of winning the race. Their Chevrolet had benefited from fuel strategy and the pair were able to challenge the leaders during the final run.

As the finish approached, the team instructed De Pasquale to save fuel. However, the remaining fuel proved insufficient to reach the chequered flag, and the car stopped making competitive progress on the final lap.

The result was particularly painful because the team had been in a position to win one of Australia's most prestigious motorsport events. De Pasquale and Holdsworth ultimately missed out on the podium after the late failure.

Team 18's disappointment did not diminish the quality of the race-long performance that had put the crew in contention. It demonstrated how endurance racing can reward strategic decisions for much of a race before one final calculation changes everything.

Further reading: Autosport's report on the Bathurst final-lap fuel drama.

Why the Bathurst 1000 Is So Difficult to Win

The Repco Bathurst 1000 is a major event on the Supercars calendar, contested over 161 laps of the Mount Panorama circuit. Its combination of long-distance racing, elevation changes, narrow sections, high-speed corners and shared driving responsibilities makes it a demanding test for drivers and teams.

Key challenges at Mount Panorama

• Fuel strategy: Teams must balance pace with the need to complete the race without running out of fuel.
• Pit-stop execution: Tyre changes, refuelling and repairs must be carried out efficiently under pressure.
• Brake management: The circuit places substantial demands on braking systems, making reliability and pit-stop decisions important.
• Driver changes: Co-drivers must complete their required driving duties while teams maintain a competitive overall strategy.
• Safety cars: Neutralisations can compress the field and change the strategic picture in the closing stages.
• Traffic and track position: Drivers must manage faster and slower cars while navigating a challenging circuit.

The 2026 finish demonstrated how these factors interact. A brake-stop setback threatened Kostecki's chances, while fuel management and a late safety car contributed to the decisive final-lap reversal.

What the Result Means for Dick Johnson Racing

The victory represents a major result for Dick Johnson Racing and its Shell V-Power Racing Team entry. The team had entered the event seeking a return to Bathurst success, and the final-lap drama delivered a win that appeared unlikely after the slow brake change.

For Kostecki, the result adds another Bathurst victory to his record. For Hazelwood, the win is also significant as the pair again demonstrated their ability to work together in a high-pressure endurance race.

The victory was not the product of a straightforward run from pole to finish. It came through recovery driving, team coordination and the ability to capitalise when the leading car encountered trouble.

The outcome will also be remembered as a reminder that endurance races are decided only when the chequered flag falls. Until that moment, fuel reserves, mechanical reliability and strategy can still overturn the running order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The 2026 Bathurst 1000 produced a finish that will be remembered for its timing and drama. Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood overcame a costly brake-stop delay and stayed in contention long enough to benefit when Anton De Pasquale ran out of fuel on the final lap.

The result gave Dick Johnson Racing a major Mount Panorama victory and left Team 18 reflecting on a race that had appeared to be within reach. It was a striking demonstration of endurance racing's unpredictability, where every pit stop, fuel calculation and final-lap decision matters.

For the full race report, classification and additional Supercars coverage, follow the official series website.