BRODIE Kostecki did not look like a man who had just taken provisional pole for the biggest race on the Supercars calendar.

In the aftermath of pipping Broc Feeney to the qualifying honours at the Repco Bathurst 1000, the #38 Dick Johnson Racing driver went on the offensive in response to a proposed Ford engine tweak being shot down today.

A move to a slightly bigger restrictor (51mm instead of 50mm) and a software timing change was presented as an answer to the 5.4-litre Coyote’s top-end woes at the altitude of Mount Panorama.

The restrictor being an item in the ESD (Engine Specification Document), that required a vote from all competitors.

V8 Sleuth understands that, per the Teams Racing Charter agreement, changes to the ESD cannot be pushed through within the relevant calendar year without a 75 percent vote in favour. That becomes 100 percent for an event where Supplementary Regulations have been issued.

So, having reluctantly agreed to pre-Tailem Bend aero changes for the Mustang, General Motors was unwilling to budge further at a meeting this morning at the Bathurst circuit.

Supercars are said to have still offered Ford the software change, which does not fall under the ESD restrictions, but Ford stood firm on it being the whole shebang or nothing.

Leading to a situation whereby Kostecki could have the fastest car over a single lap and yet still be so dissatisfied.

“We need to get our upgrade to fix the deficit to the Camaros,” he said in a matter-of-fact manner in the post-qualifying press conference.

“It’s 2km/h on average and it’s a bit disappointing that nothing has been done about it after a report has been published. It’s just crap.”

The 2023 champion later took aim at the process – which in fairness was put forward in the TRC document created when the collective teams sold their Supercars stake – whereby a vote is required.

“At the end of the day, the system is pretty flawed,” said Kostecki.

“The best way to put it is we’re at our biggest race of the year and it’s like a footy grand final, points are tied and there’s a free kick and you have to ask the other side to miss the free kick to win the grand final.

“It’s pretty disappointing for everyone that’s on the Ford side and it’s going to make it incredibly difficult come Sunday.

“We’re doing the best job we can with what we’ve got but the motors don’t deg down the straight and tyres do, so you can’t make up for what you don’t have.”

So, Supercars heads into Saturday at Bathurst with an awkwardly tense paddock once more…