WAU hits back as Mostert, Wood scoop Perth poles

Walkinshaw Andretti United has landed a double blow at the Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440, with Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood clinching Saturday's two Boost Mobile Pole Positions.

Mostert became the seventh different pole position winner in 14 sessions, before Wood became the 75th different pole position winner in championship history for Race 15.

Mostert, who claimed his 26th career pole position, led Wood in the first session, the duo securing a second WAU front row lockout in Perth in as many years.

Wood then made the most of a new set of tyres to gap the field in the second session, with Cam Waters qualifying second ahead of championship leader Broc Feeney.

"It was probably one of the worst laps I've done this weekend, I couldn't get out of the [Turn 6] bowl and I was pretty worried," said Wood, who also claimed WAU's 100th championship pole position.

"I knew we'd played quite smart in that first session, and we were a little bit nervous but confident, and managed to execute, so pretty stoked.

"I was pretty nervous, and then felt like we had put a pretty good lap down, and the lap that Kostecki did was pretty strong, but we still have a little bit of work to do I think, but all in all pretty happy."

Race 14 will commence at 12:55pm local time/2:55pm AEST, before Race 15 at 4:10pm local time/6:10pm AEST.

Race 14 qualifying

Randle kicked off the 10-minute Q1 segment, going fastest after the first flying laps with a 55.2196s. He lowered the benchmark to a 54.6796s, before Payne (54.5046s) and Allen (54.5270s) made it a Penrite Racing one-two.

As the balance of the field returned to the lane, Payne led Allen, Fullwood, Brown, Percat, Randle, Feeney, Courtney, Davison and Kostecki. Of the lead contenders, Waters was 15th and Mostert 17th.

As the field returned, traffic issues began to emerge; notably, both PremiAir drivers caught each other on the back straight. Randle opened up with a 54.4191s, before marginally improving to a 54.3865s. Remarkably, that was only good enough for 14th.

Wood (53.8402s) was just 0.0271s quicker than Payne (53.8673s), with Allen an impressive third. Feeney, Mostert, Brown, Fullwood, Kostecki, Waters and Golding clinched Q2 berths, with Percat missing out by 0.0207s.

Wood soared to the top at the start of Q2 with a 54.3979s, with Mostert (54.4305s) just behind. Payne (53.8734s) and Allen (54.1941s) ran new tyres and opted for one run, and duly hit first and second. Mostert (54.3150s) jumped ahead of Wood, with Fullwood fifth after also completing one run.

Waters split the Penrite cars with a 53.9614s, with Feeney and Brown going first and third. Mostert (53.6858s), Wood (53.7697s) and Kostecki (53.7819s) all moved ahead, with Feeney and Brown unable to improve.

Mostert's first pole of the year comes at a crucial time following a torrid weekend in Tasmania, with the two-time Bathurst winner paying tribute to both his team and young gun teammate Wood.

"It's always nervous coming 12 months on from a good result, it proves the car is really quite speedy here," said Mostert.

"A fair bit different the way we're running here this weekend as well, so it's a real reward for all the guys and girls here at WAU for what we've learned the last 12 months.

"I needed to tune myself up from Q1 to Q2, and it really shows what Woody has been able to do this year. he's really pushing me along.

"Really glad I had a really fast teammate chew me up on a bit of driving, and just sent it in and come out the other side."

Race 15 qualifying

After a brief break, the 25-car field returned for Race 15 qualifying, albeit fitted with Super Soft tyres.

As drivers fought for tyre temperatures and track position, Evans was the first driver to set a representative time with a 55.2758s. The times rapidly changed, with Wood again on the pace with a 53.9758s. The Kiwi marginally improved to a 53.9391s, with Payne, Fullwood, Waters, Allen, Mostert, Feeney, Kostecki, Randle and Golding rounding out the top 10. Brown, meanwhile, was only 21st after the first runs.

WAU kept Wood in the lane as the rest of the field rolled out, with Brown palming off the pressure to jump into the top 10. Kostecki led the way with a 53.7545s, with Waters, Allen, Randle, Payne, Wood, Brown, Fullwood, Feeney and Percat moving on. Mostert was only 11th, missing out on Q2 by 0.0128s.

The remaining 10 drivers were armed with just 10 minutes to make an impression on the Race 15 grid, and armed with a fresh set of tyres, Wood loomed as the one to beat.

Feeney kicked off Q2 with a 54.5859s, before Randle (54.2618s) and Fullwood (54.4748s) jumped ahead. Feeney improved on his second lap to a 54.2612s, before Waters launched ahead with a 54.1544s.

Only Waters, Feeney, Randle and Fullwood set competitive times through the opening runs, with Kostecki, Allen, Payne and Percat opting for one run in the closing minutes.

With the pressure on, Wood nailed a 53.8966s to put nearly 0.3s on the field, with Waters, Feeney, Payne, Randle, Kostecki, Allen, Brown, Fullwood and Percat completing the 10.

Wood has impressed this year, currently beating his highly-credentialed teammate in the head-to-head qualifying battle, but admitted his risky Q1 play of sitting out the second run was a nervous time.

"It was probably one of the worst laps I've done this weekend, I couldn't get out of the bowl and I was pretty worried," said Wood.

"I knew we'd played quite smart in that first session, and we were a little bit nervous but confident, and managed to execute, so pretty stoked.

"I was pretty nervous, and then felt like we had put a pretty good lap down, and the lap that Kostecki did was pretty strong. We still have a little bit of work to do I think, but all in all pretty happy.

"This is my best qualifying obviously being on pole, but we'll try and start the race well and build from there, we've got two good starting positions for today."