Classifying is over for tomorrow’s Bathurst 1000 after defending champion David Reynolds from Erebus Motorsport, claimed pole position at this morning’s Top 10 Shootout, 0.009 seconds ahead of provisional pole holder Whincup. Jamie Whincup from Red Bull won yesterday’s qualifying session just ahead of him and Scott McLaughlin: “That was intense’’ – Whincup said after the race – “I was just hanging on the edge. We went out late and got the most out of it. I couldn’t be happier.’’ 

The Bathurst 1000  

The Bathurst 1000 is one of the most legendary Supercar competitions in the motorsports’ calendar and a race that every Australian driver aspires to win at some point in their careers. Its fame goes beyond the Australian borders, attracting famous drivers from around the world as well as approximately 200.000 visitors every year. The circuit climbs up and down Mount Panorama, in the town of Bathurst, about three hours west of Sydney. it was built in 1938 as a panoramic road and it is still open to the public on no-race days. This famous circuit has hosted many different competitions including the AustralianGP.

The Bathurst is an extremely competitive event within the already quite wild supercar races. It suffices to say that in the last three years the winner has only been decided in the last lap and that there have been six different winners over the last six editions. 

A race where anything can happen 

Mark Winterbottom, the winner of the 2013 edition, once said that the Bathurst was “a race where anything can happen” and in which “anyone can win”. At this point, however, it looks as if last years’ champion, David Raynolds, might have a pretty good shot at repeating the feat after claiming pole position this morning. His team-mate and new to Bathurst, 23-year old Anton de Pasquale came in third, a performance which Raynolds found inspiring:

“My young teammate did a pretty amazing time so I couldn’t let him beat me,” -said Raynolds- “He did a (2:04.)43 and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I could actually do that’. 

Fourth, fifth and sixth positions went for Shane van Gisbergen, Scott McLaughlin and Cameron Waters respectively. Retiring veteran Craig Lowndes came in ninth. Among those that didn’t make it to the ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout were previous champions Chaz Mostert, Rick Kelly, Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison. 

Follow this link for tomorrow’s final full grid: https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/full-grid-2018-supercheap-auto-bathurst-1000/

By T.C. | Photo: Speedcafe