LAUNCESTON, Tasmania — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images AsiaPac photo —
Craig Lowndes has put himself in the best position possible to score his landmark 100th V8 Supercars Championship (V8SC) race win — the pole position — after topping ARMOR ALL Pole Qualifying for the third straight session at Symmons Plains Raceway.
Lowndes posted a blistering lap of 51.7978 seconds to scorch the Tasmanian circuit, a track where he has already won the first two races of the weekend and has performed startlingly well at over his tenure in V8SC competition, to top all comers.
The pole was the 40th of Lowndes’ V8SC/Australian Touring Car Championship career.
“The car was fantastic yesterday – I actually didn’t think we got the best out of our car today in qualifying, but it was good enough to be up there,” Lowndes said. “Everyone probably didn’t do [their best] lap – for me, I didn’t quite get turn four right – but saying that, the rest of the corners were pretty good. I’m happy, the guys are delighted, but now we’ve got to focus on the 84 laps.”
David Reynolds put up a stellar lap of 51.8463 seconds to slot his Bottle-O Ford Falcon FG X second overall, best of the Blue Oval contingent. Six-time champion Jamie Whincup was not far behind his teammate either — just 0.0554 seconds off to be exact — third-quick at 51.8532.
Erebus Motorsport put up one of their top qualifying efforts of the young season, with Will Davison going fourth fastest at 51.9062 seconds. Tekno Autosport rounded out the fast five with Flying Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen (51.9125).
Chaz Mostert, Andre Heimgartner, Garth Tander, Mark Winterbottom and Jason Bright completed the top ten on the grid.
Scott McLaughlin (11th) and Fabian Coulthard (14th) were two notables outside the top ten in qualifying, and Scott Pye was only able to muster the 21st-fastest lap behind the wheel of the Wurth Australia/DJR Team Penske Ford.
Points leader James Courtney will roll from 12th on the grid as he looks to defend his championship margin.
The 200 km Tasmania finale goes green at 2 p.m. Sunday, local time. Teams are required to stop at least twice for fuel and use one set of Dunlop soft tires during the course of the race.
RESULTS: V8 Supercars Championship; ARMOR ALL Pole Qualifying; Race 6; Symmons Plains Raceway
- Craig Lowndes
- David Reynolds
- Jamie Whincup
- Will Davison
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Chaz Mostert
- Andre Heimgartner
- Garth Tander
- Mark Winterbottom
- Jason Bright
- Scott McLaughlin
- James Courtney
- Dale Wood
- Fabian Coulthard
- Lee Holdsworth
- Tim Slade
- Nick Percat
- Ash Walsh
- Rick Kelly
- Todd Kelly
- Scott Pye
- James Moffat
- David Wall
- Michael Caruso
- Tim Blanchard
