Stage set for epic Bathurst qualifying as Mostert tops Practice 4

Chaz Mostert has had the final say before this afternoon's Boost Mobile Qualifying session at Bathurst, topping Practice 4 with the fastest time of the weekend to date.

The two-time Bathurst winner flew to a 2:04.6591, besting former teammate Nick Percat by just 0.075s as a manic flurry of times were recorded in the dying minutes of the session.

Reigning Bathurst winner Brodie Kostecki was third, and truly announced himself as a key qualifying contender with a stunning run across the top of the Mountain on his way to a 2:04.7801.

The #38 Shell V-Power Ford had wound up 20th, sixth and 24th heading into Practice 4, and Kostecki wasted no time laying down a 2:05.7535s. Payne sat second with a 2:06.1333s, before Hill closed the margin to 0.34s with a 2:06.1001s.

At the 16-minute mark, Percat lowered the number to a 2:05.6173s, with Hill making it an MSR 1-2 with a 2:05.6759s.

Drivers began to push the limits; notably, Golding mirrored the morning efforts of Anton De Pasquale and Macauley Jones in clouting the corner exit concrete at Griffins Bend. Kostecki returned and immediately wrested top spot back with a 2:05.1525s, putting nearly half a second on the MSR Chevrolets.

As the halfway mark approached, Cameron lit up the time sheets in Sector 1 and closed out a 2:05.3742s, with Davison forming a Ford top three with a 2:05.4233s.

Wood threatened to jump to the top, only to pinch the left front into Forrest's Elbow. The Kiwi logged a 2:05.4244s, but likely damaged a set of tyres. Fellow rising star Murray, meanwhile, jumped to second with a 2:05.1906s, just 0.0381s off the pace.

Through 45 minutes, Brown and Feeney were 19th and 21st, and Waters 25th after co-driver Mark Winterbottom's earlier race run.

Entering the final 20 minutes, De Pasquale powered to the top with the first 2:04s lap of the session, a 2:04.9931s. The PremiAir drivers continued to push the limits, Golding pushing to fourth with Stanaway grazing the Reid Park wall and running off at Murray's Corner.

Waters began to turn up the wick, moving to 10th with a 2:05.5305s before Brown jumped to eighth.

Cameron Hill and Bryce Fullwood then moved up into the top 10 into second and seventh respectively as the session entered its final 10 minutes, Hill just 0.126s away from De Pasquale's marker.

Chaz Mostert then knocked off De Pasquale, setting a 2:04.9523 in his #25 Mustang, before Brodie Kostecki responded with a 2:04.7801 to stamp his authority.

Wildcard Zach Bates then dropped into the 2:04's to go into third, setting the fastest final sector in the process, before the two Red Bull Camaros had their qualifying sims.

Bates' time held up well compared to his teammates, with his ultimate result being 10th compared to ninth for Feeney and a lowly 13th for Brown.

James Golding survived a big whack with the Griffins Bend wall to go fourth fastest, ahead of Hill, Cam Waters, David Reynolds, Kai Allen, Feeney, and Bates.

The likes of Cooper Murray and Bryce Fullwood also set fastest first sectors in the final stages of the session, however they both recorded shortcuts through The Esses, consigning them to 17th and 18th respectively.

Drivers will fight for provisional pole and a coveted berth in Saturday's Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout at 4:10pm AEDT on Friday afternoon.

Live coverage of the Repco Bathurst 1000 can be found live on screens of the Seven Network, 7plus, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.