Mostert and Payne light up Albert Park
A first non Triple Eight win of 2024 could be on the cards after Ford flyers Matt Payne and Chaz Mostert took scintillating poles at Albert Park.
Cool conditions saw Gen3 Supercars go faster than ever around the new Albert Park layout in and Payne and Mostert dropped jaws to take pole for races 5 and 6 respectively.
Payne secured his first Supercars pole by beating all the stars with a 1:46.6541 in a thrilling session where five others snatched P1 in the final minutes.
The Kiwi youngster appeared set to go back to back, only for Mostert to nail an impressive 1:46.3227 and go a tenth faster.
In both sessions the top three contained Mostert, Payne and Cam Waters, while the best Triple Eight could manage was fifth by Broc Feeney for Race 5.
For the first time this weekend teams and drivers had to contend with cloud cover and even the slightest bit of drizzle amid cool temperatures of just 13 degrees and two thrilling qualifying sessions took place.
Race 5 Qualifying
The rise of Matt Payne continues after he secured his maiden Supercars pole in a thrilling qualifying for today’s Race 5 at the Melbourne SuperSprint.
All the big names had their say as there were six lead changes in the dying minutes, but young Kiwi Payne emerged on top with an impressive 1:46.6541.
It was enough to edge out Cam Waters by just 0.0073s, while the top four was covered by just over a tenth.
Stanaway was the first pioneer and got a touch loose coming out of turn 1 and going through turns 9 and 10.
This was a sign of things to come as turn 12 became a hot spot with Stanaway locking up and going off, before being followed by Percat.
Bryce Fullwood also went off at the first turn, while Anton De Pasquale had a massive scare at turn 8.
James Golding was able to execute his lap the best, setting the fastest time of the opening flyers with a 1:47.2050.
It was just enough to edge out Courtney by 0.02s.
They were both displaced by Jack Le Brocq, who was the first to go into the 1m46s window with his third lap.
The Erebus driver’s 1:46.9351 was 0.26s faster than Golding’s previous benchmark.
Payne was another who made the most of a prolonged run, registering the second best time.
Will Brown did not set a lap time until the final five minutes and he was on it instantly.
A fastest first sector shot him straight to the top to sneak ahead of Erebus replacement Le Brocq by just 0.06s.
This setup a thrilling run to the flag as pole position changed hands constantly.
Like his Triple Eight teammate, Feeney saved his lap until the end and knocked off his teammate by 0.09s.
However, the Triple Eight Camaros were bested by Mostert by a whisker.
The WAU driver was only on top for a matter of seconds before Waters flew across the line with a 1:46.6614.
The Tickford driver looked the goods only for Payne to deliver a special lap and snatch pole by the small matter of 0.007s.
Race 6 Qualifying
Teams only had 10 minutes to debrief before having another crack and only 11 cars elected to roll out straight away.
They were straight into the 1m46s window and Nick Percat found the most time.
Percat posted an impressive 1:46.6713 straight off the bat, which edged out Bryce Fullwood by 0.04s.
Waters appeared to have the pace to at least challenge the leading Camaros, but had to settle for third after losing time in the final sector.
Meanwhile, his Tickford teammate Thomas Randle was hit by a kerb hop, while former teammate James Courtney locked up and slid off at turn 9.
Mostert waited until the seven minute mark to have a crack and instantly set a purple first sector.
The WAU driver went on to go 0.18s faster than Percat and set a new lap record of a 1:46.4835.
However, Payne wanted his record back and snatched it by 0.05s by posting a 1:46.4335 on his first flyer.
The Triple Eight drivers went for it inside the final five minutes but only Feeney could sneak into the top five with Brown in eighth.
Waters had a second bite at the cherry and again fell heartbreakingly short, having to settle for third 0.07s.
Despite being beaten by Payne, Mostert had another ace up his sleeve in the form of a second set of tyres.
He made good use of the fresh rubber, flying in the first and third sectors to steal pole by a tenth.
Mostert, Payne and Waters once again shared the top three, while Percat carried on his impressive pace at MSR to secure fourth.
Heimgartner will start last after hitting the wall side on at the exit of turn 5.
As a result three of the four BJR cars were in the bottom four, but the outlier was Fullwood, who secured a solid fifth.
Race 5 Qualifying results
Race 6 Qualifying results
Supercars Australian Grand Prix schedule
Thursday, March 21
Practice 1: 1: M. Jones 2: M. Payne 3: C. Waters
Practice 2: 1 B. Feeney 2: C. Waters 3: A. De Pasquale
Qualifying R3 Qualifying R4 Poles B. Feeney, C. Waters
Race 3: 1: B. Feeney 2: W. Brown 3: M. Payne
Friday, March 22
Race 4 (20 laps): 1: W. Brown 2: M. Winterbottom 3: M. Payne
Saturday, March 23
Qualifying R5: 09.00-09.15
Qualifying R6: 09.25-09.40
Race 5 (14 laps): 17.35-18.10
Sunday, March 24
Race 6 (14 laps): 10.20-10.55
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