Bathurst 1000: McLaughlin fastest as rain shakes up qualifying

McLaughlin and Chaz Mostert traded blows throughout the wet session, the Mustang aces leading the way as times tumbled from the 2m33s to sub-2m30s.

With 10 minutes to go their battle went up a notch, McLaughlin pulling clear with a 2m28.187s. 

He then looked to put provisional pole to bed with a 2m27.647s, only for Mostert to set two purple sectors as he looked to run down the Shell Ford.

But the Tickford driver fell short in the final sector, ending up four-tenths down on the runway points leader.

“I was so nervous before that qualifying session because we had such a good car and this is probably going to be the only wet session that we have,” said McLaughlin.

“I’m really proud. We’ve been struggling with our wet car, but we had an awesome car from the start. That was hands down the best wet car I’ve ever had.

“I wanted to be at the end of the Shootout when the track’s a little bit colder and faster so I was pushing to get into those first five spots, but obviously Sunday’s the one to worry about.”

Mostert added: “The second set [of tyres] we put on didn’t come in until very, very late. It is what it is. At least we’re in the 10.

“Everyone in pitlane can give themselves a pat on the back. I had about 10 or a dozen moments out there were I thought ‘that was close’, no doubt everyone was feeling that.”

Behind the top two it was a wild scramble for the Shootout spots, Shane van Gisbergen grabbing third with his final run.

Will Davison was next, followed by Brad Jones Racing pair Tim Slade and Nick Percat.

Jamie Whincup spent the majority of the session outside the Top 10, jumping from 16th to seventh right at the flag to ensure he'll be in tomorrow's Shootout.

It was a similar story for Cam Waters, who didn't even get on track until there was just six minutes left thanks to an engine sensor issue.

He wasted little time getting down to speed, though, banking an against-the-odds Shootout spot with eighth.

Mark Winterbottom was ninth, Anton De Pasquale grabbing the final Shootout spot – and the only one for Erebus – with 10th.

Rick Kelly will start the Bathurst 1000 from 11th, the Nissan driver getting bumped out of the Shootout by De Pasquale's late lap.

Richie Stanaway, known for his wet weather ability, had looked to be on for a shock Shootout berth, only to slip down to 12th in the closing stages.

Others to miss the single-lap dash include McLaughlin's teammate Fabian Coulthard, who will start the race from 16th, as well as David Reynolds who was a lowly 22nd.

Read Also:

• Waters reflects on Bathurst qualifying near-miss
• Reynolds laments missed Bathurst Shootout chance

Qualifying results:

Cla	Driver	Car	Time	Gap
1	Scott McLaughlin Alexandre Prémat	Ford Mustang GT	2'27.6476
2	Chaz Mostert James Moffat	Ford Mustang GT	2'28.0483	0.4007
3	Shane van Gisbergen Garth Tander	Holden Commodore ZB	2'29.1879	1.5403
4	Will Davison Alex Davison	Ford Mustang GT	2'29.2431	1.5955
5	Tim Slade	Holden Commodore ZB	2'29.3889	1.7413
6	Nick Percat Tim Blanchard	Holden Commodore ZB	2'29.4619	1.8143
7	Jamie Whincup Craig Lowndes	Holden Commodore ZB	2'29.6973	2.0497
8	Cameron Waters Michael Caruso	Ford Mustang GT	2'29.7038	2.0562
9	Mark Winterbottom Steven Richards	Holden Commodore ZB	2'29.8025	2.1549
10	Anton De Pasquale Will Brown	Holden Commodore ZB	2'29.8288	2.1812
11	Rick Kelly Dale Wood	Nissan Altima	2'29.8573	2.2097
12	Richie Stanaway Chris Pither	Holden Commodore ZB	2'29.9047	2.2571
13	Andre Heimgartner Bryce Fullwood	Nissan Altima	2'30.1249	2.4773
14	Scott Pye Warren Luff	Holden Commodore ZB	2'30.1690	2.5214
15	Todd Hazelwood Jack Smith	Holden Commodore ZB	2'30.2670	2.6194
16	Fabian Coulthard Tony D'Alberto	Ford Mustang GT	2'30.2983	2.6507
17	Simona de Silvestro Alex Rullo	Nissan Altima	2'30.5723	2.9247
18	James Courtney Jack Perkins	Holden Commodore ZB	2'30.6557	3.0081
19	James Golding Richard Muscat	Holden Commodore ZB	2'30.7457	3.0981
20	Lee Holdsworth Thomas Randle	Ford Mustang GT	2'30.7642	3.1166
21	Garry Jacobson Dean Fiore	Nissan Altima	2'30.9051	3.2575
22	David Reynolds Luke Youlden	Holden Commodore ZB	2'31.1510	3.5034
23	Macauley Jones Dean Canto	Holden Commodore ZB	2'31.2474	3.5998
24	Brodie Kostecki Jake Kostecki	Holden Commodore ZB	2'31.5757	3.9281
25	Alexander Rossi James Hinchcliffe	Holden Commodore ZB	2'31.6046	3.9570
26	Jack Le Brocq Jonathon Webb	Holden Commodore ZB	2'33.8786	6.2310
View full results