Dumbrell Gives Whincup Best Chance at Pole

Jamie Whincup qualified the car in the number one spot for the co-driver race, and that is where he’ll start later this afternoon.

His Red Bull Racing Australia co-driver Paul Dumbrell didn’t lead from the front, after Wilson Security DJR’s Dale Wood got a great jump off the start.

But Dumbrell rounded up the Falcon, as did Steve Owen (6), and Whincup’s car came home straight and in first position, putting the Championship leader in the box seat to score ARMOR ALL Pole Position for tomorrow’s race.

There was no lack of action in the co-driver race – Ash Walsh (17), competing in the main series for the first time, lost his bonnet, and several incidents are under investigation.

Both Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport cars got together (one of the incidents under investigation) early on, but Paul Dumbrell – older brother of team owner Lucas – continued improving his gap, setting the fastest lap times of the race.

The ‘international’ drivers had a tough day, with Ryan Briscoe (66) turned around after contact with Chris Pither (21), and Jeroen Bleekemolen (97) stationary after an issue with the car.

A Safety Car was deployed – and it was that restart Walsh’s bonnet flew away.

Another incident unfolded as the leaders were crossing the finish line, with Craig Baird spinning after contact with Andrew Jones.

After Dumbrell, Owen and Wood, Nick Percat (2), Warren Luff (888), Dean Canto (55), Steve Richards (5), Jack Perkins (33), Andrew Thompson (47) and Greg Murphy (22) making up the top 10.

Dumbrell and Owen were the highest placed Holden and Ford, Thompson the highest placed Mercedes and David Russell (7) the highest placed Nissan in 15th.

Steve Johnson in the SP Tools Mercedes-Benz (9) made up an impressive 10 positions over the race. 

Click here for full results – which are also the starting positions for the final race, to run at 4.38pm AEST this afternoon to determine the pole sitter for the Wilson Security Sandown 500.