Owen snares Bathurst Dunlop Series pole

Steve Owen will start from pole for this afternoon’s first race in Round 6 of the Dunlop V8 Supercars Series at Bathurst.

Owen established his flying lap relatively early in the 30-minute session, setting a 2:08.5816s tour on his eighth lap.

It was six tenths clear of series leader Dale Wood, who ensured that MW Motorsport would lock out the front row for Race 1.

Jack Perkins will start from third after thrice finding the grass during a spirited final run in his Eggleston Motorsport Commodore.

The practice pace-setter had matched Owen’s lap to the second sector with just over two minutes remaining before locking up at The Chase.

Perkins was more than three tenths faster exiting Forrest’s Elbow the next time around but attempted the left-hander with excessive pace, then in another attempt he finally gave up after straddling the Skyline exit kerb with the chequered flag being flown.

Ash Walsh was marginally slower than Perkins but faster than Taz Douglas, Andre Heimgartner, Andrew Jones, George Miedecke, Casey Stoner, and Chris Pither.

Sixth for Heimgartner represents his personal best qualification, while Stoner’s effort was his third top ten of the season.

Paul Morris was the only enduro co-driver to miss the ten, and will start Race 1 from 15th.

While several drivers found the grass at The Chase thanks to a strong tailwind down Conrod Straight, times were still significantly down on the corresponding session last year, when Chaz Mostert took pole with a 2:07.8.

The opening heat is scheduled to start at 13.35 AEDT

Dunlop Series qualifying