Kostecki claims pole position as Triple Eight faces ongoing qualifying challenges
Brodie Kostecki secured his fifth Boost Mobile Pole Award of 2026 during a qualifying session in Townsville, demonstrating a strong return after a recent health concern. Kostecki’s performance saw him narrowly edge out Cam Waters by a margin of 0.03 seconds for Friday’s sprint race pole. This achievement positions Kostecki for a strong showing, particularly after being beaten from pole by Waters in a previous race.
The qualifying session proved challenging for Triple Eight Fords, with both championship leader Broc Feeney and 2024 champion Will Brown set to start outside the top 15 for the upcoming Race 20. Brown’s session was further complicated by a loose wheel incident after exiting pit lane, which resulted in a red flag and the loss of his fastest time. He later reported that something still felt amiss with his car.
Qualifying struggles for Triple Eight
The difficulties for Triple Eight extended into Saturday’s qualifying for Race 21. Brown initially held the fastest time midway through the second segment of qualifying but opted against a second run. This decision proved costly, as he dropped to 12th position, failing to make the Top 10 Shootout. Feeney fared even worse, qualifying in 18th place, continuing a difficult qualifying streak for the team.
Brown explained the team’s strategy, noting that using another set of tyres to potentially gain a few spots in the shootout would leave them without new tyres for the race. He stated that the plan was to get through with existing tyres to preserve new ones for the main race, despite the risk of not making the shootout. He suggested that the outcome was likely only a few positions worse than if they had used additional tyres.
The qualifying sessions in Townsville highlighted a stark contrast in fortunes. While Kostecki celebrated a significant pole position, the Triple Eight team grappled with ongoing issues that impacted their starting grid positions for both races. The 35-lap Race 20 is scheduled to commence at 4:15pm AEST, while the 68-lap Race 21 is set for 3:05pm.
Kostecki’s dominant performance
Kostecki’s path to pole position on Friday involved a tight battle with Waters. In Q1, Waters initially set a strong pace with a 1:13.4160s, putting a significant gap on the field. However, Kostecki later surpassed Waters’ time by 0.0470s before the final run. Feeney, meanwhile, struggled in Q1, reporting that his #88 Ford felt as though it was on a wet tyre, placing him 17th after his first run.
The red flag caused by Brown’s loose wheel further disrupted Q1. Brown was in a provisional transfer spot before the incident but lost his fastest time due to regulations, forcing him to attempt to improve his position when the session resumed. Ultimately, both Feeney and Brown were buried in the pack, with Feeney in 16th and Brown in 19th.
In Q2, Kostecki was the first to set a competitive time, recording a 1:12.8214s, which was a tenth faster than Waters’ benchmark from Q1. Waters then came within three hundredths of Kostecki’s time. Despite Waters setting the fastest first sector on his final lap, his tyres faded, allowing Kostecki to secure his fifth pole of the year. Matt Payne qualified third, 0.2144s behind Kostecki, with Chaz Mostert starting alongside him on the second row.
On Saturday, Kostecki continued his strong form, securing another pole position for the Townsville 500. He achieved the fastest lap of the weekend to date, a 1m12.6622s, during the Top 10 Shootout. This performance allowed him to displace Thomas Randle from the top spot and hold off provisional polesitter Payne. Kostecki acknowledged the low grip conditions on the track, noting that wheel spin can be particularly penalising. The 68-lap Race 21 is scheduled for 3:05pm.
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Source: supercars.com
