SVG tops times

Shane van Gisbergen has set the fastest time in qualifying at the Coates Hire Sydney 500 in what’s set to be his last drive for TEKNO Autosports.

Van Gisbergen – typically quick on street circuits – shifts to Red Bull next season but is determined to finish on a high with TEKNO this weekend.

He will be last on track in the dash for pole – the quickest drivers go through to the ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout in an hour’s time, to earn pole position for the 250km mini-marathon around the streets this afternoon.

After clinching the Championship yesterday, Mark Winterbottom flew to the top with just over seven minutes remaining in the 20-minute session and retired early, confident his 1min28.3392sec lap was good enough to make it through.

Van Gisbergen then took P1 with his 1min 27.9904 with one minute remaining. In the flurry of the final minutes the order switched with two Volvos, two Nissans and two Fords all registering in the top 10.

It will be a career first for Volvo’s David Wall, running the shootout after finishing ninth in his final qualifying session as a full-time V8 Supercars driver. 

There were some notable omissions from the top 10, with Fabian Coulthard 12th, Craig Lowndes 13th and Garth Tander 15th.

Scott McLaughlin recorded the second best lap, 0.2275sec behind the TEKNO Commodore, with Winterbottom pushed back to third.

The Pepsi Max driver was looking forward to driving for enjoyment this afternoon, without the pressures of the Championship hunt.

“It’s nice to go out and just drive the car for fun, it’s actually quite good,” Winterbottom said.

“We’re in the best position to have a go but the shootout is like a lottery – one lap, if you get it all right you look like a hero.”

Click here for full qualifying results. 

Cars will run in reverse order for the shootout, with Tim Slade first to hit the track in what will be his last drive in the Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore.