It is the 43rd time Darren Smith and Garry O’Brien have had the opportunity to corner someone for their motor sport journey from the beginnings to where they are today.
Stuart Kostera Junior travelled to Wanneroo Raceway when his father Stuart Kostera Senior was a big name on the local scene in his thumping sports car.
It was natural that he would follow in his dad’s footsteps . . . well, not in something as fearsome as the Matich SR3 or the like, but in a kart which levered some success after inauspicious beginnings.
Progression followed into a Van Diemen RF94 in the 1999 Australian Formula Ford Championship where he finished fourth overall and had two race victories. He also placed fourth in the championship two years later.
Wings and slicks came after that. There was a brief foray into Formula Holden before an assault on the Australian Drivers’ Championship which included top 10 points finishes in the three serious years he competed in the Formula 3 category.
Then came the tin top era and three Australian Production Car titles in Mitsubishi Evo Xs with New Zealander Inky Tulloch that included numerous race wins. In the period from 2010 to 2012 he was part of 16 victories out of 26 races.
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These days Kostera is the principle of Kostera’s Tyre Service which was appointed Dunlop state distributor for Motorsport tyres in 1987 and has provided the tyre fitting service to the competitors at nearly every race meeting since.
Kostera’s Tyre Service expanded into Perth Motorsport Tyres, with not just selling Dunlop but also Hankook, Toyo, Hoosier, Avon and Michelin competition tyres.
Kostera is still active in motor sport and supports the F1000s and Streetcar categories. His motor sport life is not only interesting but has many humorous moments along the way.
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