Rookie shock as Bates takes provisional Bathurst 1000 pole

The latest Bathurst fairytale has emerged, as Canberra’s Zach Bates has taken provisional pole for the Repco Bathurst 1000.

The 22-year old for Matt Stone Racing is the first driver in the Gen3 era of Supercars to turn a lap in the 2 minute, 3 second range, with a fast lap of 2.03.9376.

He will be the last car out for the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout tomorrow.

It is a shock result for the little team that could, Matt Stone Racing based in Yatala on the Gold Coast.

Bates dedicated the result to his late mother Ali Drower, who passed away just a fortnight before Bates’ first Bathurst 1000 start last year.

Team 18’s Anton De Pasquale was second and Erebus Motorsport’s Cooper Murray third in a Chevrolet 1-2-3.

Ford stars Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki rounded out the top five, while defending Bathurst 1000 winner Matt Payne sneaks into the Shootout in ninth.

Several big names missed the Top Ten Shootout, including Broc Feeney 12th, Cam Waters 14th, and Chaz Mostert 16th.

All five Toyotas missed the Shootout, with Andre Heimgartner the fastest Supra in 15th.

Two practice sessions tomorrow precede the iconic Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout at 5:05 p.m. AEDT, which finalises the grid for Sunday’s 1000-kilometre endurance classic.

Qualifying Results – Repco Supercars Championship Repco Bathurst 1000 (Top 10)