Matt Payne leads Kiwi charge in Sandown qualifying as Erebus lock out front row

Will Brown will start tomorrow’s Sandown 500 from pole after topping teammate Brodie Kostecki by 0.1862 seconds in this evening’s Top 10 Shootout. Series leader Kostecki ensures Erebus are in prime position to extend their Teams Championship lead over Red Bull Ampol Racing by locking out the front row.

Cam Waters and Will Davison make for an all-Mustang second row, while Red Bull’s Broc Feeney and Cooldrive Racing’s Todd Hazelwood lock out Row 3.

Matt Payne was the best of the Kiwi qualifiers and starts seventh, next to teammate David Reynolds. Payne scraped into the shootout from tenth in the earlier qualifying run, running as the first driver and gaining three places from his provisional grid slot.

Waters was the biggest mover in the Top 10 Shootout, jumping from eighth to third.

Thomas Randle and Jack Le Brocq round out the top ten.

Shane van Gisbergen and Andre Heimgartner, meanwhile, were two big names eliminated from the earlier timed qualifying, which results in the Brad Jones Racing entry starting from 15th despite only being 0.13 seconds off making the top ten.

Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, suffered a kerb strike on a crucial lap before also running off moments later. He would not improve on his time set on an earlier run and was left languishing in 19th. The three-time series champion is partnering Richie Stanaway for the event.

Chaz Mostert was another who failed to progress and starts next to Heimgartner in 16th.

Nick Percat, who is joined by Kiwi Fabian Coulthard, starts from 26th of the 27-strong field, while Jack Smith, who has Jaxon Evans in support, qualified 22nd.

Tomorrow’s 161-lap Sandown 500 begins at 3.35 pm.

Sandown 500 starting grid

Header image: Supercars