Rookie’s eyes on track for MSR team

SUPERCARS rookie Zane Goddard has vowed to be an extra set of eyes and ears in the garage when teammate Jake Kostecki storms onto the Reid Park circuit.

Kostecki was left trackside last week as Goddard fought his way through mechanical dramas on the street circuit.

But after rectifying issues, which included a power steering failure and master cylinder problems in the brake, it has given Kostecki free reign to dominate in the Robson Civil Project Townsville Supersprint this weekend.

The Matt Stone Racing rookie picked up his maiden Super2 pole at the Townsville circuit last season, and has his sights set on a seat in the Top 10 Shootout.

The pair are car sharing through their first solo seasons in the Supercars Championships, and Kostecki said he would lean on his teammate for advice ahead of their combined tilt at the Bathurst 1000 in the championship’s final leg next month.

“I was itching to get behind the wheel (last weekend),” Kostecki said. “He had a few little things go wrong so I was grateful I wasn’t in the car. We have sorted those issues and have a better idea on set-up, now I will try and get some silverware.

“Darwin was only my second solo round in the Championship, I felt I was getting better with my qualifying. It is going to be very tough but I would love to get into the shootout.

“I saw glimpses of Zane’s micro-sectors last weekend and some were quite fast. Our teammate Garry (Jacobson) qualified 11th so I know we have a car fast enough to get there.”

Goddard will turn his attention on the rest of the field as he aims to help the MSR pit team.

“We are watching the sessions and seeing all the little things that are happening on the track and in the car,” he said. “I am looking for some things that engineers don’t pick up on – the subtle things that you know as a driver.”