DAVID REYNOLDS TOPS BATHURST 1000 SHOOTOUT

David Reynolds fastest in the Bathurst 1000 shootout – Photo: InSyde Media

David Reynolds has gone one better than 2017 by taking pole position for tomorrow’s Bathurst 1000, pipping Jamie Whincup to the top spot by under one-hundredth of a second.

The Erebus driver was left gobsmacked last year when Scott McLaughlin beat him to the pole but redemption was on the cards this time around, just missing out on going sub-2:04 in the process.

Heading out as the second last driver on the road, Reynolds put in the fastest first sector, a part of the track Erebus has been strong at all weekend and kept it clean for the rest of the lap to take his second pole position at Mount Panorama with a lap of 2:04.0589.

Whincup had the privilege of being the last car to hit the track, having a small moment at turn one which the seven-time champion will be left to rue as his lap ended up being just 0.0094 slower than Reynolds.

Rookie Anton de Pasquale set the pace early – Photo: InSyde Media

It was nearly the perfect session for Erebus with young rookie Anton de Pasquale being the second car out, smashing everyone other than his own team-mate to the first sector split to remain on provisional pole until the last two cars headed out.

Championship leader Shane van Gisbergen will line up alongside de Pasquale on the grid, his effort good enough for fourth on the grid and just 0.0109 ahead of title rival and Bathurst lap record holder, Scott McLaughlin.

Cam Waters will start beside the #17 Falcon, making it an all-Ford row three while Nick Percat and James Courtney will start from the fourth row of the grid after two ragged laps.

Series veteran Craig Lowndes’ 17th and final Bathurst 1000 shootout appearance saw six-time champion of the mountain fail to improve on his qualifying time, ending up down the order in ninth and alongside Garry Rogers Motorsport’s Garth Tander.

Reynolds will be looking to go back-to-back at Bathurst tomorrow after taking his and co-driver Luke Youlden’s first victory in the 1000 last year. The race begins at 11am local time.

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