Bathurst Hot News Supercars

Lee Holdsworth grabs provisional pole for Bathurst 1000

Posted by AR1 staff

After 16 years of trying, Lee Holdsworth has himself in his best position yet to claim the Peter Brock Trophy, after nabbing provisional pole position for Sunday’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

In the traditional fashion of the Great Race, today’s qualifying result was unexpected for many – with rain a key factor at Mount Panorama.

The Truck Assist Mustang driver recorded his hot lap late in the session, before light rain hit Mount Panorama, effectively ending any other drivers’ hopes of toppling Holdsworth’s time.

Lee Holdsworth fastest in qualifying for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Once the rain set in it was a done deal, with Holdsworth claiming his first-ever provisional pole for the Great Race and earning the right to go last in tomorrow’s ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout.

Holdsworth has teamed up with long-time friend and fellow SUpercars veteran Michael Caruso. The pair claimed a 3rd place finish in the 2009 Bathurst 1000 together.

Behind the Ford of Holdsworth was Red Bull Holden’s Shane van Gisbergen and defending King of the Mountain Scott McLaughlin in the Shell Ford.

In order, tomorrow’s ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootout will go:

Nick Percat (Holden), James Courtney (Ford), Chaz Mostert (Holden), Anton De Pasquale (Holden), Fabian Coulthard (Ford), Jamie Whincup (Holden), Cam Waters (Ford), Scott McLaughlin (Ford), Shane van Gisbergen (Holden) and finally Holdsworth (Ford).

Last year McLaughlin claimed provisional pole, before going quickest in the Shootout and going on to win the Great Race.

Drivers who missed the Shootout include former Bathurst 1000 Champions David Reynolds, Mark Winterbottom and Rick Kelly.

There was one crash in qualifying, rookie Jake Kostecki coming unstuck at The Cutting making for a long night for his Matt Stone Racing team.

There will be two practice sessions tomorrow morning before the Shootout which begins at 5:05pm local time.

Earlier today it was announced Sunday’s Great Race will be moved half an hour forward to avoid expected weather delays with rain due to hit Mount Panorama all weekend.

Provisional Qualifying Results

POS NO. DRIVERS TEAM TIME GAP LAPS
1 5 Holdsworth B. Feeney, Caruso Truck Assist Racing 2:04.024 +0.000s 11
2 97 Van Gisbergen Lowndes, Tander Red Bull Holden Racing Team 2:04.035 +0.011 11
3 17 McLaughlin Slade, T. D’Alberto Shell V-Power Racing Team 2:04.104 +0.079 12
4 6 C. Waters Moffat, Davison Monster Energy Racing 2:04.106 +0.081 11
5 888 Whincup Lowndes, Tander Red Bull Holden Racing Team 2:04.266 +0.242 11
6 12 Coulthard Slade, T. D’Alberto Shell V-Power Racing Team 2:04.281 +0.257 13
7 99 A. de Pasquale W. Brown, B. Kostecki Penrite Racing 2:04.467 +0.443 12
8 25 Mostert K. Kostecki, W. Luff Mobil 1 TM Appliances Online 2:04.494 +0.469 12
9 44 Courtney B. Feeney, Caruso Boost Mobile Racing 2:04.549 +0.524 12
10 8 Percat J. Boys, T. Randle R&J Batteries 2:04.554 +0.530 10
11 2 B. Fullwood K. Kostecki, W. Luff Mobil 1 TM Middy’s Racing 2:04.605 +0.581 11
12 20 S. Pye D. Fiore, J. Golding DEWALT Racing 2:04.632 +0.608 13
13 9 Reynolds W. Brown, B. Kostecki Penrite Racing 2:04.673 +0.649 12
14 7 Heimgartner D. O’Keeffe, Wood NED Whisky Racing 2:04.853 +0.829 11
15 55 J. Le Brocq Moffat, Davison Supercheap Auto Racing 2:04.905 +0.881 12
16 14 T. Hazelwood J. Boys, T. Randle Cub Cadet Mowers 2:04.973 +0.949 10
17 3 M. Jones J. Perkins, Blanchard Team CoolDrive 2:05.037 +1.013 11
18 18 Winterbottom D. Fiore, J. Golding IRWIN Racing 2:05.173 +1.149 12
19 15 R. Kelly D. O’Keeffe, Wood Castrol Racing 2:05.259 +1.235 12
20 19 A. Davison J. Webb, S. Owen Local Legends Racing 2:05.332 +1.308 12
21 35 G. Jacobson Z. Goddard, D. Russell Yellow Cover Racing 2:05.414 +1.390 12
22 4 J. Smith J. Perkins, Blanchard SCT Motor Sports 2:06.350 +2.326 13
23 22 C. Pither J. Webb, S. Owen Team SYDNEY 2:06.354 +2.329 11
24 40 T. Everingham J. Ojeda Team Valvoline GRM 2:06.681 +2.657 13
25 34 J. Kostecki Z. Goddard, D. Russell UNIT Racing 2:15.154 +11.130 4