Mostert on pole for Dunlop Series finale

Chaz Mostert has secured the final pole position of the 2012 Dunlop V8 Supercars Series follow this morning’s qualifying session Sydney Olympic Park.

Mostert’s fifth pole of the season will see him share the front row with Nick Percat, while series leader Scott McLaughlin and Triple Eight’s Scott Pye ensured that all four title contenders fill the pointy end of the grid.

The Ford Performance Racing driver set the benchmark 1:28.6853s effort with just over six minutes remaining in the 30 minute session. Mostert had been denied the chance to go top at the halfway mark when the red flags flew just seconds before he could conclude a lap.

Percat spent much of the session in third before usurping McLaughlin with just under 90 seconds left thanks to an effort that was still half a second slower than Mostert’s best.

McLaughlin could have secured a front row berth minutes earlier but was let down by a mistake in the final sector, while Pye was fourth despite light contact with the wall in the first half of the session.

Rounding out the top 10 were Dale Wood, Ash Walsh, Rodney Jane, Geoff Emery, Marcus Zukanovic, and Andrew Jones. Jones was stripped of his best time when he caused the third stoppage by nosing into the tyres at Turn 8.

Walsh hit the wall exiting the Turn 6/7 chicane in the final minute of the session, while Luke Youlden will start from 18th having necessitated the second red flag when he dislodged the tyre bundle at the same complex.

George Miedecke also endured a difficult session, clobbering the wall at the exit of Turn 9 in the opening minutes and not returning for the duration.

Race 1 commences later today at 1330.

Result: Dunlop Series Qualifying, Sydney Olympic Park