SVG disappointed with Bathurst shootout, Kostecki on pole

Brodie Kostecki will start the Repco Bathurst 1000 from pole position after a pulsating ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootout, with the championship leader nearly 0.5s clear of his closest rival.

Kostecki, who has proven the pace-setter all weekend at Mount Panorama, nailed a 2:04.2719s to leave his rivals for dead in the one-lap dash.

Kostecki and David Russell will share the front row with the Broc Feeney/Jamie Whincup #88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro for Sunday’s 161-lap race, which will commence at 11:15am AEDT.

Will Davison was first man out in his #17 Shell V-Power Mustang, but a big slide at Hell Corner eventually consigned the 2012 pole winner to 10th with a 2:06.4174s.

Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang), Matt Payne (#19 Penrite Mustang) and Shane van Gisbergen (#97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro) all improved the benchmark lap by lap.

“I had another pretty disappointing day, but as always I have to thank my team for doing an incredible job with my car again, but it’s been tough out there,” commented van Gisbergen. “The #88 guys (Feeney/Whincup) are doing a cracking job and we’re working really well together to make sure both cars are competitive before we get to Sunday.

“At the end of the day, the car is still straight, we’re working through our program, and our excitement is building to Sunday.”

SVG’s teammate Richie Stanaway was fastest in the final co-driver session. An early flyer by the Kiwi helped Triple Eight Race Engineering top a session at the Mountain for the first time this weekend before teams set about gaining race data.

“The main objective for today was getting into the shootout, so that’s a box ticked,” said Stanaway. “I’m looking forward to the co-driver session in the morning because today was a light day for me.

“I think we have some good car speed, so we have to keep working on that and see how we end up on Sunday. I’m comfortable in the car, so we just have to keep moving forward from where we are, but overall I think we’re in a pretty good spot.”

Supercars will return to the track for the Warm Up at 8:00am AEDT on Sunday, followed by Race 24 of the Repco Supercars Championship at 11:15am (local time).