An open wheel race car has returned to the top of Mount Panorama’s fastest lap holder – breaking a 10 year drought.
John Magro, driving his Team BRM Dallara F307-Mercedes, set a time of 2m05.5361s at the famous Bathurst road course during this afternoon’s qualifying session. The time is the fastest-ever qualifying lap of the circuit.
It is the first time since Neil Allen’s 1970 lap of the old Bathurst layout that an open wheeler has held the track’s fastest lap.
The lap time stands as the fastest-ever lap recorded in an official track session at the 6.213km Mount Panorama circuit. To officially beat the lap record, the F3 cars must match or better the time during tomorrow or Sunday’s races.
The current race lap record is held by Allan Simonsen, who set a 2m06.3311s in a Ferrari 458 GT3 during this year’s Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour,
Magro’s Team BRM team-mate Jordan Skinner will start from position two, ahead of James Winslow, reigning champ Chris Gilmour, Steel Guiliana and Carrera Cup regular Nick Foster.
Race 1 will be run at 1435 tomorrow, with the forecast for the Bathurst region showing late showers.
Formula 3 is competing at Bathurst as part of the annual Bathurst Motor Festival, which includes the Aussie Racing Cars, Historic Touring Cars (Group N), HQ Holdens and Production Sports
See below for F3 qualifying results from Bathurst
| Pos | Car No | Drivers | Entrant | Vehicle | CI | Laps | Gap | Fastest Lap | |
| 1 | 3 | Team BRM / Magro Motorsport | John Magro (QLD) | Dallara F307 – Merce | C | 9 | 8 | 2:05.5361 | |
| 2 | 4 | Team BRM | Jordan Skinner (SA) | Dallara F307 – Merce | C | 9 | 0:00.3575 | 7 | 2:05.8936 |
| 3 | 6 | R-Tek Motorsport | James Winslow (GBR) | Dallara F307 – Merce | C | 8 | 0:00.4041 | 7 | 2:05.9402 |
| 4 | 1 | Gilmour Racing / WASH IT.com.a | Chris Gilmour (QLD) | Dallara F307 – Merce | C | 9 | 0:00.9119 | 7 | 2:06.4480 |
| 5 | 7 | R-Tek Motorsport / Forpark Aus | Steel Guiliana (NSW) | Dallara F307 – Merce | C | 8 | 0:01.6155 | 6 | 2:07.1516 |
| 6 | 5 | Team BRM | Nick Foster (VIC) | Dallara F307 – Merce | C | 8 | 0:01.6320 | 7 | 2:07.1681 |
| 7 | 42 | BF Racing / Vic’s Timbers & Dr | Ben Gersekowski (QLD) | Dallara F304 – Spies | N | 8 | 0:02.3592 | 8 | 2:07.8953 |
| 8 | 93 | BF Racing | Hayden Cooper (QLD) | Dallara F304 – Spies | N | 8 | 0:02.3598 | 8 | 2:07.8959 |
| 9 | 9 | R-Tek Motorsport | Adrian Cottrell (SA) | Dallara F304 – Spies | N | 8 | 0:02.4613 | 8 | 2:07.9974 |
| 10 | 66 | AGI Sport / Snake Racing | Nathan Gotch (NSW) | Dallara F304 – Renau | C | 8 | 0:08.4542 | 7 | 2:13.9903 |
| 11 | 32 | Mills Motorsport / National Su | Jon Mills (QLD) | Mygale M07 – Mercede | C | 7 | 0:09.1277 | 6 | 2:14.6638 |
