Mixed emotions for Jones
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 10 October 2025
Macauley Jones was thrilled to enjoy his best Bathurst qualifying, but is also gutted knowing a dream Shootout berth was one small mistake away.
Jones impressed in the #96 BJR Camaro, qualifying 11th, a heartbreaking 0.055s away from a ticket to the Top 10 Shootout.
His previous best Bathurst starting position was 17th.
However, one mistake at The Chase on his final lap proved to be the difference between making and missing the one-lap dash, having been amongst it in the intense and rapid Friday qualifying.
“I am a bit torn,” Jones told Auto Action.
“I am really happy in one way, but also slightly disappointed and more in myself.
“The car is pretty fast and really happy with how it is set up.
“I just made a little mistake in the last sector and was on a really good lap at the end, but did not quite finish it off which is on me.
“I would have definitely made it which is the depressing part.
“I just dropped a wheel and lost two tenths in The Chase, picking up some dirt.
“That is part of it when you are having a crack.”
Looking ahead, Jones can see the positives as he and the rest of the BJR team now has a full day to focus on the race set-up.
He and Jordan Boys have a strong connection being their fourth straight Great Race together.
“We still get to focus on race car stuff so it is sort of the best of the worst evil,” he said.
“We can put all of our attention into the race car instead.
“We (Jones and Boys) have great communication and have known each other since go karting which is really cool.
“We are all open together and still do 86 days at the local track.
“The other cars in the group seemed to have struggled, so hopefully we can all improve as a whole because a rising tide raises all boats.”
2025 Bathurst 1000 schedule
Thursday, October 9
PRACTICE 1 1: R. Wood/J. Ojeda 2:05.1029 2: A. De Pasquale/H. Jones +0.4236 3: K. Allen/D. Wood +0.8132
PRACTICE 2 1: Scott Pye/W. Brown 2:06.8395 2: David Russell/J. Golding +0.1461 3: Tony D’Alberto/W. Davison +0.6345
Friday, October 10
PRACTICE 3 1: B.Feeney/J.Whincup 2:04.9763 2: R.Wood/J.Ojeda +0.0341 3: W.Brown/S.Pye +0.0784
PRACTICE 4 1: C. Mostert/F. Coulthard 2:04.6591 2: N. Percat/T. Slade +0.0754 3: B. Kostecki/T. Hazelwood +0.1210
QUALIFYING 1 Brodie Kostecki 2:04.0307 2 Broc Feeney +0.0064 3 Ryan Wood +0.0560
Saturday, October 11
PRACTICE 5 (co-drivers only) 10:05 AM – 11:05 AM
PRACTICE 6 1:10 PM – 2:10 PM
TOP TEN SHOOTOUT 5:05 PM – 5:50 PM
Bathurst Day, October 12
WARM UP 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
THE GREAT RACE 11:45 AM (161 laps)
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