Brodie Kostecki has secured the 2023 Supercars championship after race 27 at the Adelaide 500 on Saturday.
Kostecki, who led the battle for the championship by 131 points coming into the weekend, finished sixth in the race but his main rival, Shane Van Gisbergen missed the opportunity to gain the necessary ground to keep the championship alive in dramatic fashion.
The Kiwi's race was over on lap one after he collided with Kostecki's teammate Will Brown, ruling both cars out.
Championship drama on the opening lap! 😵😵 Shane van Gisbergen is OUT after contact with Will Brown ❌#RepcoSC #7Motorsport pic.twitter.com/Ko5IyGil6N
— 7Sport (@7Sport) November 25, 2023
Van Gisbergen came into the year, his final one in Supercars before heading to NASCAR full time, as reigning and a three-time champion.
Coming into the Adelaide 500, Kostecki, 26, needed to outscore Van Gisbergen by 20 points in the race one to take an unassailable 150-point lead and secure his first championship.
Cam Waters claimed victory in the 250km race on Saturday, edging out David Reynolds and Thomas Randle in the minor placings.
It was Waters' third race victory of the season and sees him to sixth in the championship standings.
A second 250km race on Sunday will round out the Adelaide 500