Mostert storms to third Winton pole

As usual, it was only the last three minutes of the session that counted. Before the final flurry of laps, PRA had just one car in the Top 10 – only to wind up locking out the top three spots with Mostert, Mark Winterbottom and David Reynolds storming to the top of the sheets on their first proper flying laps.

Behind the Prodrive trio, Nissan led the way through Michael Caruso. Fresh from a podium finish in yesterday’s first race, Caruso was the best of the rest in fourth, albeit more than four tenths off pole.

Will Davison was Erebus’ best in fifth, relegating Rick Kelly to the outside of the third row right as the flag came out to end the session.

Fabian Coulthard was seventh, and best of the Commodores, after spending the session yo-yoing up and down the times sheets. The Kiwi had been fastest five minutes from the end, before being pushed way down the order as the times started to tumble. Ultimately he was able to find some late improvement himself.

Triple Eight’s poor weekend continued, with Craig Lowndes the team’s best performer in eighth. But Jamie Whincup was way off the pace, finishing the second 22nd, and almost a second off Mostert.

The Holden Racing Team lacked speed as well, with practice pace-setter James Courtney 16th fastest, one spot ahead of Garth Tander.

Elsewhere, Scott Pye had a decent session to grab the ninth grid spot for Penske, while Scott McLaughlin was the best of the Volvos in 11th.