Feeney, Waters split Thursday AGP pole positions

Broc Feeney and Cam Waters have each scored a pole position after two dramatic Boost Mobile Qualifying sessions in Melbourne.

Feeney managed a Triple Eight gamble to perfection to claim Race 3 pole ahead of Anton De Pasquale, before Waters powered his new Tickford Racing Mustang to Race 4 pole ahead of Will Brown.

Waters' pole, his first of the season, was a big turnaround after missing the top 10 in all qualifying and race sessions at the season-opening Thrifty Bathurst 500.

Chaz Mostert, who is third in the championship behind Brown and Feeney, qualified third and ninth for the two races, with the first sprint to get underway on Thursday afternoon.

Race 3 Qualifying

Nick Percat (#10 Bendix Chevrolet) opened proceedings with a 1:48.8910s, which was beaten by Thomas Randle’s (#55 Castrol Ford) 1:48.4429s, before De Pasquale (#11 Shell V-Power Ford) improved to a 1:48.3681s.

Ryan Wood (#2 Mobil 1 Truck Assist Ford), who would end up 18th, jumped to third with a 1:48.8288s. With eight minutes remaining, however, neither Triple Eight driver had set a lap.

With six minutes remaining, Richie Stanaway (#26 Penrite Ford) jumped to the top with a 1:48.1624s, with Bryce Fullwood (#14 Middy's Electrical Chevrolet) second with a 1:48.2850s.

Mostert powered to top spot with a 1:47.9782s and returned to the lane for the final two minutes, with Brown and Feeney returning to the lane with four minutes to go.

Waters improved to third with a 1:48.1384s, with Percat moving to second with a 1:48.1344s.

The Triple Eight gamble paid off, with Brown jumping from 23rd to second, before Feeney snuck in a 1:47.7148s to score his second straight Albert Park pole.

Just as Mostert’s time looked good enough to secure a front row start, De Pasquale powered in a 1:47.8680s after the chequered flag to steal second.

Mark Winterbottom (#18 DEWALT Chevrolet) ended up 20th after scraping the Turn 8 wall on his fast lap, with teammate David Reynolds (#20 TRADIE Beer Chevrolet) just behind in 21st.

Race 4 Qualifying

Team 18's woes continued early in the second session, with Reynolds sliding into the grass at the penultimate corner on his first flying lap.

Fullwood led the early running with a 1:48.2039s ahead of Wood, Winterbottom, Waters, and Will Davison (#17 Shell V-Power Ford).

With eight minutes remaining, both Triple Eight cars rolled out for the first time, as did both Erebus Motorsport cars, both Matt Stone Racing cars, and Stanaway.

Matt Payne (#19 Penrite Ford) motored to the top with a 1:47.7809s, which was 0.06s down on Feeney's benchmark from the earlier session. Mostert, meanwhile, finally rolled out with six minutes to go.

Stanaway went second with a 1:48.1138s, before Brown and Feeney took ownership of the front row, albeit split by 0.0441s.

Down in 23rd, Mostert got his first flying lap underway and moved to fifth with a 1:47.9580s. Seconds later, Waters motored to top spot with a 1:47.4916s, just before vision turned to pictures of both PremiAir Nulon Racing Camaros facing the wrong way.

Tim Slade (#23 PremiAir Nulon Chevrolet) spun at Turn 3 and came to rest on corner exit, before teammate James Golding (#31 PremiAir Nulon Chevrolet) arrived on the scene and stopped on the inside of the corner, triggering local yellow flags.

Waters hung onto pole, his first since Gold Coast 2023 and first at Albert Park, with Brown and Feeney within 0.15s. Winterbottom improved late on to fourth ahead of Payne, with De Pasquale and Davison sneaking to sixth and eighth.

Mostert, meanwhile, was bumped down to ninth ahead of Stanaway.

Race 3 will commence on Thursday afternoon at 5:55pm AEST, and is 19 laps or one lap after 6:33pm.

Race 4 starts at 2:55pm on Friday, and is 19 laps or one lap after 3:33pm.