Ford Performance Racing continue to be the pace setters in V8 Supercars with their three drivers filling the first three spots in qualifying for the first race of the SKYCITY Triple Crown at Hidden Valley Raceway.
Mark Winterbottom posted the best time of 1:08.5587 early in the qualifying session but he couldn’t match his performance in the shootout and championship leading teammate Will Davison took pole ahead of stablemate David Reynolds.
Winterbottom will start fourth alongside Jamie Whincup on the second row while the third row will be occupied by Stone Brothers Racing drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Tim Slade. Their teammate Lee Holdsworth will be behind on row four with Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander.
Jack Daniels driver Rick Kelly will start from ninth while Lockwood Racing Holden driver Fabian Coulthard was the biggest loser in the shootout, dropping the 10th after being fifth fastest in qualifying.
The biggest surprise of the session was Craig Lowndes who could only manage the 20th fastest time.
The race will get underway at 4:35pm AEST.
Qualifying times
1. Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 1:08.5587
2. Will Davison (Ford) +0.0425
3. David Reynolds (Ford) +0.0938
4. Jamie Whincup (Holden) +0.1021
5. Fabian Coulthard (Holden) +0.1158
6. Tim Slade (Ford) +0.2215
7. Lee Holdsworth (Ford) +0.3014
8. Garth Tander (Holden) +0.4406
9. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford) +0.4447
10.Rick Kelly (Holden) +0.4471
11.Steve Owen (Ford) +0.5971
12.Jason Bright (Holden) +0.5980
13.Todd Kelly (Holden) +0.6040
14.Russell Ingall (Holden) +0.6068
15.Michael Caruso (Holden) +0.6117
16.Tony D’Alberto (Ford) +0.6253
17.Jonathon Webb (Holden) +0.6513
18.Michael Patrizi (Holden) +0.7371
19.James Courtney (Holden) +0.7435
20.Craig Lowndes (Holden) +0.7624
21.Karl Reindler (Holden) +0.9443
22.Steven Johnson (Ford) +1.0157
23.David Wall (Holden) +1.1096
24.Alexandre Premat (Holden) +1.1171
25.David Russell (Holden) +1.2085
26.Taz Douglas (Holden) +1.2193
27.Dean Fiore (Ford) +1.3221
28.James Moffat (Ford) +1.3407
Top ten shootout
1. Will Davison (Ford) 1:08.6664
2. David Reynolds (Ford) +0.4196
3. Jamie Whincup (Holden) +0.4435
4. Mark Winterbottom (Ford) +0.5942
5. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford) +0.6672
6. Tim Slade (Ford) +0.7712
7. Garth Tander (Holden) +0.8068
8. Lee Holdsworth (Ford) +0.8332
9. Rick Kelly (Holden) +0.8560
10. Fabian Coulthard (Holden) +0.8695
