Feeney leads star-studded list of qualifying shocks

An all-star cast failed to book a ticket through to Saturday Shootout glory at the Repco Bathurst 1000, headlined by title contender Broc Feeney and reigning champion Chaz Mostert.

Matt Stone Racing rookie Zach Bates was the biggest shock of a wild day at the Mountain, soaring to provisional pole with a Gen3 record lap.

Bates laid down the first ever 2:03s lap of the Gen3 era with a 2:03.9376s, beating Anton De Pasquale and Cooper Murray in an all-Camaro top three.

While three-time pole winner Brodie Kostecki, championship leader Matt Payne and 2024 champion Will Brown were able to claim Shootout spots, their closest Ford rivals stumbled when it mattered.

Feeney, who trails Payne by 120 points in the championship, was only 12th, albeit just 0.0250s from a Shootout berth. Kai Allen, who opened the weekend on top, missed out by 0.0189s. Waters was 14th, with Mostert 16th.

The Feeney and Waters Fords have struggled all weekend, Feeney's #88 Red Bull Ampol Mustang with brakes, and Waters' #6 Monster Energy Mustang with grip.

Thomas Randle out-qualified Waters in one of the more surprising outcomes of the day, given Waters led the qualifying head-to-head 20-9.

Brown, meanwhile, was 0.24s ahead of his fancied teammate, who missed the Shootout for the first time in the Gen3 era.

The Mostert Toyota, which appeared a favourite to claim a Shootout spot through practice, was only 16th. Mostert, who claimed pole for the 2019 and 2021 races, was 0.1826s off the pace.

With Ryan Wood missing the Shootout after a morning accident, Walkinshaw TWG Racing — and Toyota, for that matter — won't have representation for Saturday's run-off.

Track action resumes with Practice 4, for co-drivers only, at 10:05am AEDT.