Dalton makes emphatic Super2 title statement

DUNLOP Super2 Series co-leader Lochie Dalton has stamped his authority as the man to beat in the development series, claiming his second pole of the season in Darwin.

In the first-ever Super2 qualifying session held in the Top End, it was two drivers from the polar opposite end of Australia who stole the show.

Dalton will share the front row with fellow Tasmanian Campbell Logan, the first time Logan will start on the front row for a Super2 race, whilst championship co-leader Brad Vaughan could only manage eighth on the grid.

Despite blazing sunshine and warm temperatures, Reuben Goodall immediately went quicker than anyone went throughout 80 minutes of practice on a 1:07.9975s on the opening run, the first to dip below 68 seconds all weekend.

All four Tickford Mustangs filled out the top four, Goodall leading Ben Gomersall, Nash Morris, and Logan, before Morris then scraped ahead on a 1:07.9908s.

Former Tickford junior Dalton broke up the dominance to claim fourth, whilst joint points leader Brad Vaughan was the quickest of the Holdens in sixth, more than two tenths off the pace.

Bayley Hall was the first driver to make a leap on the final run, vaulting into fifth just 0.07s off Morris' benchmark, before the marker was moved by Logan.

The Tickford recruit set a 1:07.9867s to go briefly to the top, however it was Dalton who secured back-to-back pole positions, having claimed his first pole of the season in the second race at Sydney.

Morris and Goodall will share the second row for Tickford, ahead of Gomersall, Hall, Elliott Cleary, Vaughan, Matt Hillyer, and Ayrton Hodson.

After impressing in the final practice session of Friday, Matt Chahda Motorsport are buried in the field, Jordyn Sinni qualifying 16th and Chahda 18th, whilst Zak Best could only manage 14th.

The first ever DUNLOP Super2 Series race in Darwin commences at 1:55pm local time/2:25pm AEST.