Whincup fastest, Reynolds crashes in qualifying
15 Sep 2019
Jamie Whincup has bounced back from the penalty that cost him a Saturday podium at Pukekohe in ideal fashion to clinch provisional pole for today’s 70-lap race.
An ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout berth was on the line in the 20-minute qualifying session as drivers encountered a drying track following morning rain.
That did not prevent near-record times from the early stages of the session.
Escaping without damage, McLaughlin’s earlier time was good enough for sixth behind Whincup, Davison, Mostert, van Gisbergen and Lee Holdsworth.
“It was more arse than class,” said McLaughlin of his spin.
“I needed to find a tenth and a half there so I just released the brake and got on the gas and just went too wide.
“I was just building up to it and building up to it, but I needed to find something there, so I was like ‘stuff it, we’ll have a crack’.
“Then I just got on the wet grass. It was lucky absolutely, but this category you’ve got to go hard and put your things on the line.
Joining them in the 1:40pm shootout will be Nick Percat, Fabian Coulthard, Mark Winterbottom and yesterday’s second place finisher Cameron Waters, with Todd Hazelwood the unlucky man to miss the cut.
Kelly Racing had yet another tough time of it with Andre Heimgartner the lead driver in 13th but their remaining three Altimas trapped in the bottom five.
Richie Stanaway was unable to repeat his 2018 Shootout heroics in front of his home fans but will start from the midfield in a solid 16th.
