Bathurst 1000: McLaughlin takes historic pole position

Having smashed the existing lap record during practice yesterday, the DJR Team Penske driver lowered his own benchmark with a 2m03.831s during today’s single-lap dash.

Not only was the time good enough to secure pole for the Great Race, but it’s also the first ever time under 2m04s at the famous Mount Panorama circuit.

“I knew we could do that,” said an emotional McLaughlin.

“I’m over the moon. That was the most incredible moment of my life.”

David Reynolds will start from the outside of the front row, having matched his regular qualifying position thanks to a 2m04.274s.

Mark Winterbottom will start third, making up two spots compared to his regular qualifying effort. One of those positions came at the expense of Prodrive teammate Chaz Mostert, who dropped a spot and will start fourth.

Shane van Gisbergen made up two spots by qualifying fifth, while Cam Waters dropped two spots with his 2m04.680s.

Fabian Coulthard dropped one spot to qualify seventh, while Jason Bright and Garth Tander both went one spot forward in eighth and ninth.

James Courtney went backwards by two spots to end the session 10th, lock-ups at Turn 2 and into The Chase proving costly.

Cla	#	Driver	Car	Time	Gap
1	17	Alexandre Prémat    Scott McLaughlin	Ford Falcon FG-X	2'03.8312
2	9	David Reynolds  Luke Youlden	Holden Commodore VF	2'04.2746	0.4434
3	5	Mark Winterbottom    Dean Canto	Ford Falcon FG-X	2'04.4988	0.6676
4	55	Steven Owen    Chaz Mostert	Ford Falcon FG-X	2'04.5875	0.7563
5	97	Shane van Gisbergen    Matt Campbell	Holden Commodore VF	2'04.6688	0.8376
6	6	Richie Stanaway    Cameron Waters	Ford Falcon FG-X	2'04.6802	0.8490
7	12	Tony D'Alberto    Fabian Coulthard	Ford Falcon FG/X	2'04.9693	1.1381
8	56	Jason Bright    Garry Jacobson	Ford Falcon FG-X	2'05.2277	1.3965
9	33	Garth Tander    James Golding	Holden Commodore VF	2'05.3261	1.4949
10	22	James Courtney    Jack Perkins	Holden Commodore VF	2'05.4890	1.6578