Gray claims first career Super2 pole in hectic Tassie qualifying

Rylan Gray has claimed his maiden Boost Mobile Pole Award in the Dunlop Super2 Series after taming Tasmania in Race 3 qualifying.

On what has been a strong weekend for Tickford Autosport, the teenager set a 52.2173s, pipping teammate Reuben Goodall by just 0.0599s to lead a front row lockout for the strengthened four-car squad.

All four Tickford entries qualified well inside the top 10, with Launceston local Lochie Dalton qualifying fifth and Nash Morris eighth.

Gray, who became the youngest Super2 round winner of all-time when he climbed to the top step at Bathurst last year, was elated to claim his first career pole.

"Super pumped to finally get the first one," Gray said.

"It's been coming for a long time, and to finally get it is so cool. I'm super pumped."

Gray features new backing from Tickford's Supercars spearhead and former Super2 champion Cam Waters, whose Waters Whisky brand has appeared on the doors of Gray's #55 Mustang this weekend.

"It might be a good luck charm, so I might have to keep it, it's pretty cool for him to support me and give me guidance."

The opening to the session saw lengthy tyre warmup procedures for the entire field, with the Hard tyre and cool track conditions making conditions treacherous for the 23 drivers during their warmup procedures.

Zach Bates dribbled off the road at Turn 2 on his first attempt at a push lap, whilst Gray immediately jumped to the top alongside Race 1 winner Cameron McLeod.

The entire field returned to pit lane at the halfway point of the session, where there was drama for championship leader Jordyn Sinni, who was trailing smoke from the #54 Eggleston Commodore, with fluid pooling under the car once it stopped.

Sinni's suspected power steering issue was repaired, and the #54 was sent out with three minutes remaining in the session, however 11th was all that the Round 1 winner could manage.

Sinni's teammate Cody Burcher was the first car to depart pit lane for his final run, with the majority of the field rolling out after the #36 had completed the first of it's warmup laps.

Burcher had his first push lap with about five minutes remaining in the session, which ended up being about five tenths down on Gray's benchmark from the first runs.

Goodall leapt to third in the #5 Tickford Autosport entry, and improved even further to second by session's end, however Dalton had a wild ride through the grass at Turn 7, holding up teammates Goodall and Morris in the process.

In third place was a sensational performance from Mason Kelly, who achieved his career best qualifying for Kelly Racing just 0.0758s off Gray's pole time.

Burcher managed fourth and was the lead Eggleston entry, ahead of Dalton, Bates, Elliott Cleary, Morris, McLeod, and Bailey Sweeny, who has enjoyed a strong weekend after completing a pre-event test day.

There were several incidents that happened simultaneously with a minute remaining in the session, as first McLeod ran off at Turn 7, followed by Dalton having another excursion at Turn 7.

Jobe Stewart also ran off at Turn 2 ahead of McLeod, whilst Brad Vaughan parked up at Turn 4 having overshot the hairpin. All four drivers were able to resume without the need for a red flag stoppage.

Race 3 of the 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series begins at 2:30pm AEST.