Bates in disbelief after 'insane' top three result in qualifying

Reigning Dunlop Super2 Series champion Zach Bates has put his name up in lights in Boost Mobile Qualifying after qualifying a sensational third at the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440.

The wildcard Triple Eight Camaro ensured passage to the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout later this morning after the Canberran set a 1:08.2658, just over a tenth of a second behind provisional polesitter Anton De Pasquale.

More impressively, Bates was just 0.0768s behind stablemate Broc Feeney, and was 0.0741s faster than reigning Supercars champion Will Brown.

Bates emulated the feats of Cooper Murray at Darwin just over a year ago, who also qualified for the Sunday Shootout in the Triple Eight wildcard, a performance that saw him earn a full-time opportunity with Erebus this season.

21-year-old Bates was in disbelief upon climbing out of the Triple Eight Camaro, though he knew that the car was capable of featuring at the front of the field.

"It's insane honestly, we knew the car could do it, it was just me sorting my stuff out," said Bates.

"The Supercheap Auto Triple Eight crew, they've done a fantastic job, so it's good to reward them with that.

"In that last race yesterday we were running pretty good and then fell off a bit with the tyre, but nonetheless it's good to be in the Shootout.

"It's difficult being back here in the lane, you're the new guy on the block so you can't complain too much, but because we're at the back we only get one lap on our first run, so straight out of Super2 into this is a change.

"They've given me a great car, so it makes my life a bit easier."

The Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout begins at 11:40am AEST, before Race 25 at 3:15pm AEST - bringing an end to the Repco Sprint Cup.