Just how hard is it to go back-to-back at the Bathurst 1000?
Brodie Kostecki can only laugh when the question is put to him.
"You know, there's only been a few drivers lucky enough to win one of them," Kostecki told AAP.
All eyes will be on the Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) star this weekend, who reunites with co-driver Todd Hazelwood in a bid to once again claim the holy grail of Australian motorsport.
The pair - then racing for Erebus Motorsport - were flawless at Mount Panorama last year, leading for all but four laps across the marathon six-hour race to take out their maiden Bathurst 1000 win.
A change in team and manufacturers has done little to curb Kostecki and Hazelwood, who claimed the Enduro Cup curtain-raiser The Bend 500 last month.
Three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen was the last driver to secure consecutive wins at Bathurst, becoming the first in 15 years by taking out the 2023 and 2024 races.
Kostecki says he's not superstitious, and will readily admit fine form isn't enough to guarantee a triumph, but can't help but lean into the mythology around Mount Panorama.
"I think the mountain chooses you sometimes - hopefully, we're on the bingo cards," the 27-year-old said.
"We're racing around for around about six hours … sometimes things just happen outside of your control.
"We've seen in the past there's been a lot of odd things that have taken people out of races - wildlife, flying tyres and all sorts of things.
"Rocks, you know."
Beyond rocks, Supercars championship leader Broc Feeney and co-driver Jamie Whincup loom as the DJR pair's biggest threats.
Triple Eight ace Feeney heads to Mount Panorama licking his wounds after a nightmare pit stop for seven-time Supercars champion Whincup derailed their bid for victory at The Bend 500.
Feeney finished in a sub-par 19th after starting on pole for the 14th time this year.
Should Kostecki and Hazelwood prevail again on Sunday, they'll also end DJR's six-year drought at the mountain.
Three-time series champion Scott McLaughlin triumphed by 0.68 seconds ahead of van Gisbergen in 2019 for DJR's first Bathurst triumph since Dick Johnson himself claimed the crown in 1994.
"Being a part of this organisation, it comes with such a rich history and pedigree," Kostecki said.
"Growing up and seeing the name DJR, I got to witness the Scott McLaughlin era, which was truly incredible for our sport.
"To be a part of the rebuild - we've had two race wins this year, which isn't acceptable to anyone's terms, but it's been a great improvement.
"We see ourselves in the championship hunt and we've got two big targets on for the rest of the year - one of them is Bathurst and the other one's the championship."
Action at Mount Panorama gets underway on Thursday with practice at 1.20pm (AEDT), before Friday's qualifying session at 4.10pm.
