Kostecki celebrates victory with Dick and Jill Johnson. Image: Supplied
Brodie Kostecki blasted through Team 18’s pit bay following his own stop as the Chevrolet team was setting up to service Anton De Pasquale.
Team 18 car controller Mitch Croke was forced to dive out of the way to avoid being hit, as there was no clear agreement between teams for the pass-through to take place.
Representatives from both teams were summoned to the stewards in the aftermath of the race.
The result was a $3000 fine, of which $1500 is suspended until December 31, and a loss of 30 teams’ championship points.
“The Stewards summoned and heard from the Authorised Representative of Racing Team (Aust) Pty Ltd, the Authorised Representative of WFL Racing Pty Ltd (Team 18) and the DRD,” read the stewards report.
“The Stewards viewed broadcast vision of Car 17’s pit stop, in-car vision from Car 17 and vision from Team 18’s pit boom camera. The vision showed Car 17 driving through the pit box of Team 18 as that team was setting up for a pit stop.
“The Authorised Representative for Car 17 stated that he decided to send Car 17 through Team 18’s pit box and thought he had got the attention of all Team 18 pit personnel about his intention.
“He acknowledged that in hindsight he had not alerted Team 18 to Car 17’s intention and that Car 17 driving through Team 18’s pit box created a potentially dangerous situation.
“Both Authorised Representatives stated that as they have occupied adjacent pit garages for some time this year, they have a good working relationship and communicate their pit stop intentions to each other. In this case, a clear misunderstanding occurred.”