SYDNEY, New South Wales, Australia — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images AsiaPac photo —
V8 Supercars’ “Flying Kiwi” proved exactly how fast he can go during final practice for this weekend’s season-ending Sydney NRMA 500.
Shane van Gisbergen, driving the TEKNO Autosport No. 97, blasted to the top of the time charts in advance of ARMOR ALL Pole Qualifying at the Sydney Olympic Park street circuit, posting a lap of 1:27.6311 seconds on his final lap of practice that topped all challengers.
Young gun Scott Pye followed SvG in second on the practice charts, albeit nearly a half second off of the New Zealand native. Pye’s lap of 1:28.0546 seconds was also set on his final circuit in the No. 16 Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon.
“Shane pumped out a crazy time,” Pye said on Twitter following his run. “I’d be happy with this for qualifying though, if we can maintain. (Just gotta) keep pushing.”
David Reynolds came home third in the Rod Nash Racing Ford, with Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin and Red Bull Racing’s Jamie Whincup rounding out the top five.
Tim Slade finished the final practice session in sixth with Holden stablemate James Courtney in seventh. Craig Lowndes ended up eighth in the second Red Bull Holden, and Fabian Coulthard and Garth Tander completed the rest of the top ten.
Notables outside the top ten included Mark Winterbottom (12th), Jason Bright (13th) Lee Holdsworth (19th), who is making his 300th career V8 Supercars start during the second 125 km sprint, and Bathurst 1000 winner Chaz Mostert (20th).
Holdsworth had a power steering failure during his run, forcing the car to the paddock and the crew into overdrive. The Erebus Motorsport crew hopes to have the #300 repaired in time for qualifying.
Marcos Ambrose continued to struggle in his XBOX Ford Falcon for Dick Johnson Racing, clocking in last of the 26 cars on the grid at Sydney Olympic Park in the final practice. His lap of 1:29.3961 seconds was 1.76 seconds slower than van Gisbergen’s flying lap.
ARMOR ALL Pole Qualifying begins for Races 36 and 37 at 11:15 a.m. local time.
