Reigning Bathurst 1000 Champion Chaz Mostert has swapped his Commodore for an Audi this weekend, but has still found the pace required to be at the front – vaulting the #65 Audi to the provisional LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour pole.
Mostert benefited from a fast flyer from Bronze teammate Liam Talbot to clinch top spot.
Audi claimed the top three times in qualifying and will be the manfuacturer to catch in this afternoon’s Top ten Shootout.
“Liam did a fantastic job, he gave me a few tenths up my sleeve,” Mostert said. “A cold Pirelli around here definitely takes a few laps.
“It’ll be a different style of shootout, but it’ll be a lot of fun.”
Shane van Gisbergen managed to qualify eighth despite a trying run to 12th for Prince Jefri Ibrahim. Ibrahim qualified the #888 Triple Eight Mercedes-AMG only 12th in the first segment of qualifying.
Talbot was the fast man in the Bronze session, and held onto top spot after a late red flag.
The first session was halted with six minutes remaining after a spin for Yasser Shahin (#777 Audi). Shahin rotated the car at the final corner, and became stuck in the wet grass as he attempted to rejoin.
Talbot’s flyer handed Mostert a 0.281s headstart on the field, with van der Linde’s co-driver Brad Schumacher 0.584s behind. Schumacher was on a flyer before the session went red for the stranded Shahin Audi.
Mostert, van der Linde and Feller traded fast times, but it was the Supercars star who emerged quickest.
The two-time Bathurst 1000 winner held on by 0.336s over van der Linde, with Feller third.
The positions was frozen when Eric Constantindis (#11 Porsche) crashed exiting the Cutting. The session was declared as the damaged car was retrieved, handing the #65 Audi provisional pole.
The tweaked Pirelli Shootout procedure will be put to the test at 4:10am local time.
Sunday’s race will begin in the dark at 5:15am AEST. SKY Sports NZ will show action on Saturday and Sunday live, as per the Australian broadcast times, +2 hours.
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