Fabian Coulthard has won provisional pole for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in a dramatic qualifying session that saw heavy crashes for front-runners Jamie Whincup and David Reynolds.
Coulthard clocked a record breaking 2:05.61s lap with six of the session’s scheduled 40 minutes remaining.
On top by a full 0.6s, the Kiwi then sat out the closing stages confident that he had locked himself into the Top 10 Shootout.
Shane van Gisbergen missed out on knocking his countryman from the head of the order by just 0.09s after a last gasp effort.
The Tekno Holden had been seemingly unaffected by an earlier brush with the exit wall at The Dipper.
Underlining Brad Jones Racing’s strong form was an outstanding third for Dale Wood and a sixth for Jason Bright.
Bright had at one point appeared on course to threaten Coulthard’s time before running off at The Chase.
“It’s full credit to the boys,” smiled Coulthard.
“From Sandown we were lacking a bit of pace and we’ve been working tirelessly and haven’t had a hell of a lot of sleep.
“If I can repay them like this then we all should be pretty happy.”
Mark Winterbottom was at the top of the order for much of the going but fell to fourth after failing to improve late on.
Scott McLaughlin, Jack Perkins, James Moffat, Garth Tander and Craig Lowndes complete the Shootout field.
Lowndes and Wood both jumped into the Top 10 after the chequered flag flew, bumping out Walkinshaw duo James Courtney and Nick Percat.
Reynolds and Whincup will meanwhile start from the rear of the grid after their sessions ended early against the concrete.
Reynolds heavily damaged The Bottle-O Ford at Sulman Park after losing control while trying to go around the outside of a Jack Daniel’s Nissan.
“I came over the crest at the grate and was a little bit wide because of the slower car and it was all over after that,” explained Reynolds after leaving the medical centre.
“I’m physically fine but emotionally I’m a bit destroyed. The boys are looking at a pretty bent car.”
Soon after the resumption of running, Whincup slid his Red Bull Holden into the fence at The Cutting, causing a second red flag.
The crash is another setback in what is proving a difficult weekend for the championship leader, whose Red Bull team has struggled to adapt to the resurfaced circuit.
“I’ve almost done it five or six times this weekend and it finally got me in the end,” he said of the crash.
“(But it was) my error, I shouldn’t be pushing harder than the car will allow.
“Fingers crossed that with another practice session tomorrow, we can have a good car (by the race).”
A final practice session will take place tomorrow morning ahead of the evening’s Top 10 Shootout.
Result: V8 Supercars Qualifying, Bathurst
1 |
Lockwood Racing |
Fabian Coulthard |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:05.61 |
|
2 |
Team Tekno VIP Petfoods |
Shane Van Gisbergen |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:05.70 |
00:00.09 |
3 |
Team Advam/GB |
Dale Wood |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:06.24 |
00:00.63 |
4 |
Ford Pepsi Max Crew |
Mark Winterbottom |
Ford Falcon FG |
02:06.26 |
00:00.65 |
5 |
Valvoline Racing GRM |
Scott McLaughlin |
Volvo S60 |
02:06.34 |
00:00.73 |
6 |
Team BOC |
Jason Bright |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:06.48 |
00:00.87 |
7 |
Team JELD-WEN |
Jack Perkins |
Ford Falcon FG |
02:06.53 |
00:00.93 |
8 |
Norton Hornets |
James Moffat |
Nissan Altima |
02:06.61 |
00:01.00 |
9 |
Holden Racing Team |
Garth Tander |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:06.62 |
00:01.01 |
10 |
Red Bull Racing Australia |
Craig Lowndes |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:06.71 |
00:01.10 |
11 |
Holden Racing Team |
James Courtney |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:06.72 |
00:01.11 |
12 |
Walkinshaw Racing |
Nick Percat |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:06.75 |
00:01.14 |
13 |
Jack Daniel's Racing |
Todd Kelly |
Nissan Altima |
02:06.81 |
00:01.20 |
14 |
Ford Pepsi Max Crew |
Chaz Mostert |
Ford Falcon FG |
02:06.84 |
00:01.23 |
15 |
Norton Hornets |
Michael Caruso |
Nissan Altima |
02:06.89 |
00:01.28 |
16 |
Jack Daniel's Racing |
Rick Kelly |
Nissan Altima |
02:06.89 |
00:01.28 |
17 |
Wilson Security Racing |
Scott Pye |
Ford Falcon FG |
02:07.27 |
00:01.66 |
18 |
Erebus Team Beko |
Will Davison |
Mercedes E63 AMG |
02:07.50 |
00:01.89 |
19 |
Erebus Motorsport V8 |
Lee Holdsworth |
Mercedes E63 AMG |
02:07.55 |
00:01.94 |
20 |
Repair Management Aust Racing |
Russell Ingall |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:07.58 |
00:01.97 |
21 |
Supercheap Auto Racing |
Tim Slade |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:07.90 |
00:02.29 |
22 |
Valvoline Racing GRM |
Robert Dahlgren |
Volvo S60 |
02:08.26 |
00:02.65 |
23 |
Wilson Security Racing |
David Wall |
Ford Falcon FG |
02:08.39 |
00:02.78 |
24 |
Super Black Racing |
Ant Pedersen |
Ford Falcon FG |
02:08.49 |
00:02.88 |
25 |
Red Bull Racing Australia |
Jamie Whincup |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:19.51 |
00:13.91 |
26 |
The Bottle-O Racing Team |
David Reynolds |
Ford Falcon FG |
03:48.13 |
01:42.53 |
VIDEO: The aftermath of Reynolds’ crash
VIDEO: Whincup hits the wall at The Cutting
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