Dumbrell takes pole for Super2 Race 1 at Sandown

Paul Dumbrell has earned pole position in a heavily interrupted qualifying session for Race 1 of the Dunlop Super2 Series at Sandown.

Dumbrell (#88 Eggleston Motorsport VF Commodore) came out on top amid three red flag periods in the 15-minute session, with Todd Hazelwood ensuring that the top two in the series will square off from the front row.

Mason Barbera lost control of his #99 Garry Rogers Motorsport VF Commodore on the out-lap and skated into the gravel trap at Dandenong Road, the red flag putting a pause on proceedings before any driver could set a lap.

With Barbera parked, the rest of the field each got in one timed lap except for Josh Kean (#5 Prodrive Racing Australia FGX Falcon) and Jake Kostecki before the latter caused another red flag.

Both had also gone off at Dandenong Road in quick succession, with the #56 Kostecki Brothers Racing VF Commodore unable to be driven out.

Dumbrell set what would stand up as the fastest time on his second lap of the third run of qualifying before Garry Jacobson brought out the reds for a third time after a big moment at the top of the back straight.

The 2016 series winner straight-lined the Esses in his #1 Prodrive Racing Australia FGX Falcon and lost control, sliding all the way down the hill and becoming the third victim of Dandenong Road.

With the clock restarting during the stoppage, there was enough time for each car to have one more timed lap.

Dumbrell gave up on his, but Hazelwood got out of gaol as he jumped from 10th to second after the chequered flag.

The series leader and his Matt Stone Racing team had gambled in sending the #35 VF Commodore out on used tyres for the third run, but car #1 was cleared in enough time for Hazelwood to drive himself out of trouble at the very end.

Anton de Pasquale (#67 Paul Morris Motorsports FGX Falcon) moved up to third, bumping Will Brown back to fourth (#38 Eggleston Motorsport VF Commodore), as Jack Le Brocq (#28 MW Motorsport Nissan Altima) moved up to fifth on his final lap.

Jack Perkins (#4 Dragon Motor Racing VF Commodore) was temporarily shuffled down the timing screen but bounced back to sixth, the same position he held under the final red flag.

The rest of the top 10 was Andrew Jones (#8 Brad Jones Racing VF Commodore), Macauley Jones (#14 Brad Jones Racing VF Commodore), Richard Muscat (#44 Garry Rogers Motorsport VF Commodore), and Bryce Fullwood (#16 MW Motorsport Nissan Altima).

Shae Davies (#26 MW Motorsport Nissan Altima) was one position outside, Jordan Boys (#98 Dragon Motor Racing VF Commodore) qualified 12th on debut, and Jacobson’s loss of his best lap left him mired in 21st.

The first of two 22-lap races this weekend takes place this afternoon at 1515 local time/AEST.

Results: Armor All Qualifying