Brodie Kostecki has been crowned Supercars champion after helping Erebus wrap up the teams’ title on a day rookie Matt Payne took out his first victory at the season finale in Adelaide.
But the day was all about Kostecki, who finished eighth and wrapped up a 323-point title win over the NASCAR-bound Shane van Gisbergen.
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Van Gisbergen’s farewell to Supercars reached a cruel new low when he retired from the race.
Having held off the Kiwi great’s championship challenge on Saturday, Kostecki revelled in the burnout celebrations in Sunday’s last race but almost created a disaster for himself.
The 26-year-old came just millimetres away from spinning into the trophy and he almost spun into the pit wall where his team members were celebrating.
“Gee, he almost wiped out on the fence then,” Mark Skaife laughed in commentary.
Neil Crompton said: “I tell you what he nearly did, he nearly got the trophy!”
Kostecki – wearing a custom-made champions T-shirt – received the silverware on the podium alongside Erebus owner Betty Klimenko, who received the teams’ trophy.
“Stoked to get the teams’ championship and the drivers’ championship,” Kostecki said.
“It’s been all the hard work that’s gone in all season and the team truly deserves it. We’re truly humbled to be here.”
Kostecki’s championship rival van Gisbergen had a weekend to forget ahead of his move to the US for a tilt at NASCAR next year.
Dogged by car troubles all weekend, he made seven pit stops during the race as his crew struggled to identify any issues.
Van Gisbergen did not return to the track after turning back into the pit in lap 63.
Meanwhile, Grove Racing’s Payne started on pole and won the finale while departing teammate David Reynolds climbing from 10th to finish third.
Touted as the next big thing out of New Zealand since van Gisbergen, the 21-year-old’s triumph marked his first podium finish.
“It’s so good. I’ve got no words,” Payne said.
“We’ve all been trying. We’ve worked so hard and I finally think we’ve got some really good pace in both cars.
“It was a really good start actually. I just went for it. I saw Brodie going next to me and I just got the jump on him.”
Triple Eight’s Broc Feeney finished second.