James Golding tops last Bathurst practice before qualifying
Several surprises in top 10
DJR to undertake engine change on Brodie Kostecki Ford
James Golding will enter Boost Mobile Qualifying as the man to beat at the Repco Bathurst 1000, topping Practice 4 at Mount Panorama.
After a chaotic Practice 3, teams made their final preparations for qualifying with 60 minutes of green flag running, however one of the fancied combinations will be in a race against time before qualifying.
The Brodie Kostecki/Todd Hazelwood Ford will undergo a pre-qualifying engine change, the decision costing Kostecki a final qualifying simulation before the 40-minute session on Friday afternoon.
Practice 3 began with news that both Ryan Wood and Rylan Gray would both miss Boost Mobile Qualifying, as Walkinshaw TWG Racing and Dick Johnson Racing got stuck into major rebuilds of the #2 Toyota and #38 Ford.
Matt Payne was also late onto the circuit, as Penrite Racing finished an engine change on the #19 Ford following Practice 3.
As the clock ticked down towards Friday afternoon qualifying, more attention began to shift towards one-lap speed, with only five co-drivers rolling out to start the session.
The #99 Erebus Camaro continued to show impressive speed from the outset, Cooper Murray punching out a 2:06.2074s early in the running.
Kai Allen was the first into the 2:05's on a 2:05.9911s, which was comprehensively beaten by Brodie Kostecki, who dipped below a 2:06 for the first time all weekend with a 2:05.4659s.
David Reynolds was the next to go fastest on a 2:05.2967s, before Murray went back to the top, this time in a 2:05.2133s, just 0.0834s clear of the 2017 Bathurst winner.
Anton De Pasquale all but matched Murray's marker, just 0.0004s down on Murray, before Kai Allen went just 0.0551s down on Murray, the top four all within a tenth of a second.
Jack Le Brocq would appear at the top of the timesheets inside the final 10 minutes, threatening the 2:04's with a 2:05.0583s.
With six minutes remaining the first cars rolled out for their final qualifying simulations, with the Penrite Fords slightly off-sequence and starting their laps early.
Armed with his fresh engine, Payne was the first to jump up the order into second, whilst Murray, Chaz Mostert, and Zach Bates all lit up the timing screens.
Bates was on to potentially top the session before he locked up at Murray's Corner, before Jayden Ojeda became the first to break into the 2:04's for the session on a 2:04.9312s.
Murray and Mostert couldn't quite sneak their way into the 2:04's, but Golding and Le Brocq both set flyers to end the session in first and second, Le Brocq improving on his previous benchmark to end the session just over a temth behind the #7 Ford.
De Pasquale bumped Ojeda out of the top three with his final flyer, with Aaron Cameron sixth, Bates seventh after his moment, Reynolds eighth, Broc Feeney jumping into ninth late, and Mostert rounding out the top 10.
Boost Mobile Qualifying for the Repco Bathurst 1000 will commence at 4:10pm local time.
