Lee Holdsworth grabs provisional pole for Bathurst 1000

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