Whincup, Waters split Sunday Townsville poles

Jamie Whincup and Cameron Waters have split the pole positions for the two Sunday races at the WD-40 Townsville SuperSprint.

Whincup was fastest in Qualifying for Race 18 of the Repco Supercars Championship at the Reid Park Street Circuit, and will share the front row with Red Bull Ampol Racing team-mate Shane van Gisbergen in that encounter.

Van Gisbergen, the championship leader, will also be on the front row when Race 19 gets underway later in the afternoon, although he will be to the outside of Tickford Racing’s #6 Monster Energy Mustang on that occasion.

Whincup’s and Waters’ results were in fact a mirror of each other’s, with both qualifying sixth-fastest in the session in which they did not take pole.

Qualifying for Race 18

Oil dropped during the preceding support category session left the track dirty at the commencement of Qualifying for Race 18.

In light of that, and the typically tight SuperSprint tyre allocation, all reportedly started on old rubber.

Todd Hazelwood (#14 Tools.com ZB Commodore) was fastest after the first flyers with a 1:14.5276s but it was David Reynolds (#26 Penrite Mustang) on top at the end of the first runs with a 1:14.2580s.

Reynolds’ time was easily eclipsed once the field got onto new tyres, initially by Bryce Fullwood (#2 Mobil 1 Middy’s ZB Commodore) on a 1:13.6650s.

Van Gisbergen (#97 ZB Commodore) then clocked a 1:13.4651s before Triple Eight Race Engineering team-mate Whincup (#88 ZB Commodore) usurped him with a 1:13.2184s.

With the chequered flag out, Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Appliances Online ZB Commodore) split them on a 1:13.4060s but van Gisbergen was able to wrest back a front row berth by setting a 1:13.2876s on his second push lap.

Mostert therefore ended up third, ahead of Will Davison (#17 Shell V-Power Mustang), Reynolds, and Race 17 winner Waters.

Seventh through 10th were Will Brown (#9 Pedders ZB Commodore), Brodie Kostecki (#99 Boost Mobile ZB Commodore), Fullwood, and Hazelwood.

Anton De Pasquale (#11 Shell V-Power Mustang) was 14th-fastest at 0.6452s off the pace, while Tim Slade did not set a time after the #3 CoolDrive Mustang threw its left-rear wheel off during his opening run, causing damage to a toe link bolt.

“I can’t really enjoy this one; you’ve got 10 minutes and then we are back out again,” said Whincup straight after the session.

“The track is crazy different; pole with a 13.2, I never thought that would happen.

“The track will get better and we’ll have a crack now.”

Qualifying for Race 19

Fullwood was fastest of the 10 who set a time in the opening set of runs of Qualifying for Race 19, with a 1:13.5187s.

All were reportedly on green tyres for the final flings, and it was Davison who was first to move the benchmark when he set a 1:12.9372s.

Van Gisbergen then clocked a 1:12.8309s but Waters grabbed pole when he laid down a 1:12.8147s just before the chequered flag.

“We’ve changed the car on its head and it’s a totally different race car this weekend,” said the pole-sitter.

“Probably didn’t the best job that qual 1 this morning but tuned her up for qual 2 and managed to get the pole.

“I think our race car is pretty damn good at the moment, I think we can still make it a little bit better, but we’re just continuing to learn with what we’ve done.”

De Pasquale ended up third on a 1:12.9332s having also been bumped back by Waters, and will share Row 2 with team-mate Davison.

Hazelwood claimed fifth, with Whincup to start on his outside, and the top 10 rounded out by Reynolds, Macauley Jones (#96 Coca-Cola ZB Commodore), James Courtney (#44 Boost Mobile Mustang), and Fullwood.

Row 6 will be Nick Percat (#8 R&J Batteries ZB Commodore) on the inside of Mostert, who was 0.3909s off the pace on a 1:13.2056s.

Race 18, another 39-lapper, is due to get underway at 12:45 local time/AEST.

Results: Qualifying for Race 18, WD-40 Townsville SuperSprint

Results: Qualifying for Race 19, WD-40 Townsville SuperSprint

Note: Car #4 3pos grid penalty