Bathurst 1000: McLaughlin fastest as rain shakes up qualifying
Scott McLaughlin topped a wild rain-affected qualifying session at Mount Panorama.
Photo by: Dirk Klynsmith / Motorsport Images
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.
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 |
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