McLaughlin nabs provisional pole
BATHURST: Different conditions, same old result.
Just hours after setting another lap record under clear skies, Supercars series leader Scott McLaughlin soaked up wet conditions to top the timesheets again and claim provisional pole for tomorrow’s Bathurst 1000.
McLaughlin seemed to surprise himself yesterday when he thrived on a treacherous Mount Panorama track, clocking 2min 27.64sec to hold out fellow Ford driver Chaz Mostert and Holden’s Shane van Gisbergen.
Pole position will be determined this afternoon in a top10 shootout.
‘‘I was so nervous before that qualifying session. We’ve been struggling with our wet car so to come out in an awesome car from the start, so stoked,’’ McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin’s time was almost 30sec slower than the lap record he set in yesterday’s second practice session held under clear skies — a blistering 2min 3.48sec.
It marked the second time in as many days he had lowered the track record.
But the defending series champion was just thankful to emerge unscathed from qualifying.
‘‘It was pretty skatey out there,’’ McLaughlin said.
‘‘I am not sure what is more impressive that [time in the wet] or my [lap] record — but I would much prefer the dry.’’
Former Bathurst champion Mostert was amazed noone slid off during the 40minute qualifying session which remarkably did not feature one red flag.
But he is bracing himself for more wet weather which is forecast for today’s shootout.
‘‘If it is wet tomorrow, then it will be super tough,’’ Mostert said.
‘‘I had 10 to 12 [scary] moments then. But it was a worldclass effort from the grid to keep that session going [with no red flags].’’
Holden star Jamie Whincup also impressed yesterday in the wet, surging late from 16th to finish seventhfastest and snatch a lastgasp shootout spot.
It was a shot in the arm for Whincup who crashed his Commodore during yesterday’s second practice session.
Fourtime Bathurst winner Whincup hit the wall on top of the mountain after trying to avoid Holden’s Richie Stanaway who had crashed just ahead of him.
It ensured some anxious moments for his Red Bull Racing team which furiously repaired the Commodore to ensure it was ready for qualifying.
Whincup is one of the hot favourites after recruiting seventime Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes as his codriver, reuniting after claiming threestraight Great Races from 2006.
But the man to catch will be McLaughlin, who is desperate to claim a maiden Bathurst title.
The New Zealander has adopted a ‘‘win it or bin it’’ approach at the mountain thanks to his 598point championship lead over nearest rival van Gisbergen.
The huge buffer means he can crash out in the next two rounds and still conceivably lead the series.
Holden star David Reynolds was among the big names to miss out on the shootout, finishing 22ndfastest.
And IndyCar drivers and wildcard entries James Hinchcliffe and Alex Rossi will start their first Great Race from secondlast on the 26strong grid. — AAP