Waters beats Feeney, Mostert spins in Sydney Shootout

Cam Waters has beaten Broc Feeney to Sunday pole in an action-packed Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout, which was headlined by a wild spin for Chaz Mostert.

Waters and Feeney will share the front row for the third time in as many races at the Thrity Sydney 500 - Opening Round, setting up a rematch of the Friday and Saturday starts.

Tickford Racing driver Waters is gunning for three straight pole-to-win performances, with Feeney smarting after a Friday puncture and narrow defeat on Saturday.

Star Dick Johnson Racing recruit Brodie Kostecki was third ahead of reigning champion Will Brown, who impressed to fourth after sneaking into the Shootout by 0.001s.

There was a bitter pill to swallow down at Walkinshaw Andretti United, however, with Mostert to start 10th following a spin in the final sequence of corners.

Mostert heads into Sunday's finale 42 points behind runaway leader Waters, who won Friday's race by 17 seconds, before taking out Saturday's 200km race in the closest finish in over 40 years.

"That's absolutely awesome, I really wanted to get that done," Waters said.

"The conditions are so hard, obviously it's so hot and the wind direction is a little bit different, there were lots of mistakes out there so I was trying not to make any mistakes, have a clean lap, and it's obviously awesome to get another pole.

"It's obviously hot, so it's a little bit greasy out there, and the wind effects our cars so much, so if there's just a little bit of a breeze or a different direction can really effect how the balance is at particular corners.

"I had to try and keep a little bit in reserve to make sure I didn't spray it."

The Shootout, held amid the hottest ambient and track conditions of the weekend, began with Brown. The #1 Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet driver posted a 1:29.9979s, Brown setting an impressive first sector before closing out what would prove to be the time to chase.

David Reynolds bowled a wide at Turn 5 and recorded a 1:30.7152s. Will Davison then lost time in Sector 1, and despite closing out his lap with two purple sectors, remaining 0.2s off the pace. James Golding went even quicker in the final sector, but wound up 0.1s off Brown's time.

As the heat increased, Matt Payne slotted into second with a 1:30.0989s, before attention turned to Mostert. The two-time Bathurst winner powered to the quickest first and second sectors, and only needed to close out the lap to jump to the top.

Instead, the #25 Mobil 1 Optus Ford Mustang spun out at the final sequence of corners, Mostert throwing away his lap and all but guaranteeing a starting grid slot of 10th.

Jack Le Brocq also battled to get a lap together, clocking a 1:30.4530s, leaving Kostecki, Feeney and Waters to chase Brown's number.

Kostecki went first, losing time in Sector 1 before charging into top spot with a 1:29.8523s courtesy of an impressive middle sector. Feeney then blazed to the fastest first and third sector times, the 2024 runner-up laying down a 1:29.7199s for Waters to chase.

Waters went 0.009s quicker in the first sector, and put nearly 0.2s on Feeney in Sector 2. While Feeney's Sector 3 remained the best, a 1:29.6107s was good enough for a 32nd career pole for Waters.

The Thrifty Sydney 500 - Opening Round will conclude with Race 3 at 4:05pm AEDT.