Championship-winning Supercars squad Tickford Racing has terminated Jake Kostecki’s contract just one season into a multi-year agreement.
Following the Adelaide 500 finale, several reports emerged that Kostecki had been involved in an altercation with rival racer Scott Pye of Team 18.
That raised tensions within the Tickford Racing camp and has ultimately led to his deposing just a few months out from the season-opener.
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A statement from the Melbourne-based squad confirmed the split and the forthcoming announcement of his replacement.
“Tickford Racing and driver Jake Kostecki have decided to part ways by mutual agreement and will not continue with their partnership in the 2023 Supercars championship season,” the statement read.
“Tickford wishes Jake well in his future endeavours.
“The team will make further comment on its 2023 driver line-up in due course.”
It’s expected Super2 Series winner Declan Fraser will fill the void left by Kostecki.
Fraser won four races in the 11-race Super2 Series season and made his Bathurst 1000 debut alongside Great Race legend Craig Lowndes last year.
Driving a Triple Eight Race Engineering-built Holden Commodore, the wildcard pairing finished eighth.
With every other seat on the 2023 grid accounted for, the only hope Kostecki has of getting on the grid is as a co-driver.
Kostecki joined Supercars part-time in 2020 with Matt Stone Racing, a season that saw he and Zane Goddard share a Holden Commodore.
In 2021, the pair went full-time with the same squad, finishing 19th in the drivers’ championship.
His move to Tickford Racing in 2022 to pilot a Ford Mustang was challenging. In the 34-race season, he finished inside the top 10 on just three occasions.
Kostecki was initially announced at Tickford Racing at the back end of 2021 on a multi-year agreement.
Tickford Racing won the Supercars title in 2015 with Mark Winterbottom.
The 2023 Supercars championship will get underway on the streets of Newcastle on March 10-12.
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