FORD Performance Racing’s Will Davison has claimed pole position for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 after a thrilling Top 10 Shootout at Mount Panorama.
The 2009 Bathurst winner and co-driver John McIntyre will line up on pole in their Tradingpost FPR Falcon for the big race tomorrow after Davison set a 2m08.0693s lap.
Davison outpointed Jamie Whincup by just 0.0369s to claim the $5000 ARMOR ALL Pole Position Award as bad weather threatened to change the face of the one-lap dash for pole.
“Isn’t that good!” said Davison, who received congratulations from two-time Bathurst winner John Goss after his lap.
“It’s awesome. It doesn’t give you any championship points, but it’s such a special part of Bathurst history. As a driver, this is a big moment, pure gold.
“It’s been a big goal of mine I’ve always wanted to tick. Seeing how close it was at the end makes it more special.
“Tomorrow’s is a whole new day but it’s a special moment for the team. We’ve nailed it, I’m pumped.”
Davison’s effort is Ford Performance Racing’s third Bathurst pole position, adding to the poles taken by Mark Winterbottom in 2007 and 2010.
Whincup and partner Paul Dumbrell will line-up on the front row of the grid tomorrow, with Shane van Gisbergen putting the SP Tools Falcon third on the grid – both drivers racking up their personal best Bathurst grid position.
Davison’s teammate Mark Winterbottom was fourth fastest from Lockwood Racing’s Fabian Coulthard while reigning Bathurst champions Garth Tander and Nick Percat will start from sixth.
Tim Slade’s Bathurst Shootout debut went well and he put the Lucky 7 Falcon seventh on the grid, while David Reynolds, Craig Lowndes and Steve Owen rounded out the top 10 to form the grid for tomorrow’s big race.
All eyes now turn to tomorrow’s big race with the Peter Brock Trophy on the line for the winners of the 50th year celebration race at the Mountain.
The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 kicks off tomorrow at 10.30 AEDT at Mount Panorama after a 20-minute warm-up session at 7.25am AEDT.
Check back to the BigPond Sport V8 Supercars website over the course of the day for live updates.
