Ryan Wood will start this afternoon’s Super2/Super3 race from 10th on the grid whilst Matthew McCutcheon will fill grid spot 21 as the fourth best Super3 competitor.
Both Kiwis impressed in qualifying for their respective grid slots with Wood unlucky to be run offline by a car on an outlap after setting a purple first sector.
Super3 were first to take to the track for their 10 minute session, McCutcheon the first to set a time with a 1:16.0937 enough to top the time sheets after the other eight drivers had finished their first laps.
He immediately went on to better this with a 1:14.8022 which was immediately responded to by Cameron McLeod and Jobe Stewart.
Stewart then went on tot top McLeod’s time to go to the top whilst Jett Johnson, son of Steven Johnson and Grandson of Dick Johnson, slotted into third to push McCutcheon to fourth.
With two minutes remaining McLeod moved back to the top with a 1:14 flat putting him .15 seconds ahead of the pack.
That was enough to see the Queenslander top qualifying to start at the front of the Super3 pack with Stewart alongside.
McCutcheon kept fourth in class and will start next to Johnson.
Super2 qualifying saw a 20-strong field take to the track for their 10 minute session with the times flying in thick and fast.
Drivers were pushed by fast times with the times set by Super3’s also matched to Super2 qualifying to set the grid for their joint race this afternoon.
Times started off slowly but quickly began to tumble mid-way through the session.
Wood had been poised in the mid-field all session but lit up the timing board with two minutes to go to set the fastest first sector. Unfortunate traffic prevented a strong final sector with Aaron Love crawling on the racing line to push Wood wide and narrowly avoid the wall, leaving the Kiwi ninth.
Zach Bates was an unfortunate victim of the Newcastle Street Circuit and forced out after contact with the wall damaged his front left.
The chequered flag flew with Cooper Murray taking pole over Jack Perkins. Zak Best will start third after getting the better of 2022 Super2 runner-up Kai Allen who starts fourth.
Wood will start 10th on grid whilst McCutcheon’s time bettered three Super2 competitors and puts him 21st of 29 competitors.
The opening race of the Super2 and Super3 season goes green at 3.50pm and covers 21 laps of the circuit.
Header Image: Walkinshaw Andretti United
