Over 40? No problem! The exclusive club Reynolds joined in Townsville

Seven days ago, David Reynolds became just the sixth driver since the turn of the century to record an ATCC/Supercars Championship pole position after their 40th birthday.

It’s something which has been achieved by only 19 drivers in the category’s entire 65-year history and was proof that Reynolds still very much has what it takes on his day.

After placing fourth in the two-part Saturday qualifying in Townsville, Reynolds shot to the front thanks to a 1:12.8352s lap in the Top 10 Shootout which put him more than a tenth clear of the field.

It marked his first pole since the 2023 Newcastle 500, and Team 18’s second-ever (the first having come via Mark Winterbottom at the 2019 Tasmania SuperSprint).

It’s the latest glimpse of Reynolds showing pace far exceeding his championship ranking of 19th, having also been second in opening practice at Symmons Plains in May and second in Sunday qualifying at Wanneroo.

With Reynolds sharing the front row of the grid with former teammate Matt Payne, it also made for the biggest age difference on the front row since Queensland Raceway 2017 when Craig Lowndes lined up alongside pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin.

Lowndes is one of the other five drivers since 2000 to have taken pole aged 40-plus.

He initially did so the day after his 40th birthday at the 2014 Darwin Triple Crown, and added a further seven following that.

Jason Bright chalked up seven of his 17 career championship poles after turning 40, during a 2013-14 purple patch for Brad Jones Racing.

Wayne Gardner’s second and final pole came at 41 years of age at the 2000 Bathurst 1000.

Reynolds’ ongoing full-time peer Will Davison has managed it twice, at Pukekohe 2022 and Sydney Motorsport Park last year.

Last but not least in the post-1999 era is Luke Youlden from when he was Reynolds’ co-driver at the 2018 Sandown 500.

Both drivers were awarded pole on that day, given they both contributed to the feat via a pair of grid-decided sprint races.

Drivers to have recorded an ATCC/Supercars pole after turning 40

Alphabetical order

*Achieved in a race where both drivers of a car were awarded pole