Chaz Mostert surged to pole position for the 2021 Bathurst 1000, posting the fastest-ever top-ten shootout time in a Supercar.
Since practice kicked off on Thursday, Mostert had been one of the quickest drivers and is yet to take his foot off the gas pedal.
His 2.03.373 is fractionally quicker than what Scott McLaughlin achieved in the 2019 shootout. (Yeah, McLaughlin had that lap disqualified like a month after the 2019 race, but still…).
“That was so much fun,” a jovial Mostert said over the radio after the lap.
Mostert was the third-to-last driver to set his sole flying lap and saw off competitive challenges from Anton De Pasquale and Will Brown.
De Pasquale joins Mostert on the front row, two-tenths slower than the polesitter.
Cameron Waters, who starts P3, had, at the time, put in one of the cleanest laps of the session.
His mid-2.03 looked to be too much to beat.
However, Mostert was electric down the hill, and he was pure sublime down Conrod Straight and into The Chase.
He was left speechless once learning the pole was his.
“I don’t even know what words [to say]. The car was awesome to drive.”
It was a lap worthy of praise, and Mostert comfortably said the lap was the best of his career.
Brown was the star of yesterday’s qualifying. But despite having the supposed best conditions to set a lap by being the last driver out, the Erebus driver starts P5.
“Just to be in the shootout was awesome,” Brown said. “I just didn’t maximise it over the top enough. I know I left a fair bit on the table there.”
Ahead of him is teammate Brodie Kostecki, who put in a mighty effort to land a spot on the second row.
“I couldn’t give a shit if anyone beats me,” Kostecki said after the lap.
His team were in tears of joy.
Tim Slade didn’t make too much noise on his lap but kept it clean to end up sixth. He was left feeling “super proud” of his efforts.
Behind Slade starts Shane van Gisbergen; the only Red Bull in the shootout, and even then, was seemingly lost for pace.
The Kiwi hit the wall at Forrest Elbow, which he said “F…ed up the lap.”
Will Davison starts eighth, with Nick Percat and Jack Le Brocq rounding out the fifth row.
At a glance: Top-ten shootout results
- Chaz Mostert
- Anton De Pasquale
- Cam Waters
- Brodie Kostecki
- Will Brown
- Tim Slade
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Will Davison
- Nick Percat
- Jack Le Brocq
Update: Both Erebus cars (Kostecki and Brown) have been disqualified from the shootout. They start P9 and P10 in the race.