Zach Bates has scorched the Mountain to take provisional pole for the Repco Bathurst 1000 after an exciting and unpredictable Qualifying session.
The Matt Stone Racing rookie stunned by setting a 2m 03.937s to become the fastest driver around the Mountain in the Gen3 era by eclipsing Brodie Kostecki’s previous best of 2m 04.030s.
Chevrolet clean-swept the top three as behind Bates were DEWALT Racing’s Anton De Pasquale and Cooper Murray for Erebus Motorsport.
Bates continued his impressive qualifying form, which has been a highlight of his maiden season in the Repco Supercars Championship.
“Honestly, it’s incredible. I can’t believe it,” said Bates.
“It’s a credit to the whole crew behind me, the boys and girls have been working so hard.”
Paying tribute to his mother, broadcaster Alison Drower, who passed away from cancer prior to last year’s Repco Bathurst 1000.
“This is for my mum who passed last year,” Bates continued.
“We’ve had a pretty average year, the whole family, so this is definitely a highlight.
“I’m super thankful.”
Will Brown led the Ford attack after placing fourth in the Red Bull Ampol Racing Mustang ahead of the Shell V-Power Racing Team example of Brodie Kostecki and the Snowy River Racing Camaro of veteran David Reynolds.
Jack Le Brocq made it both Matt Stone Racing entries inside the top 10 ahead of PremiAir Racing’s Jayden Ojeda, with Matt Payne just squeezing into the Shootout for Penrite Racing as James Golding rounded out the contenders for the Blanchard Racing Team.
Payne’s teammate Kai Allen will start the Great Race from 11th alongside Broc Feeney, while Thomas Randle leads the Monster Castrol Racing campaign from 13th sharing the seventh row with teammate Cam Waters.
Andre Heimgartner was the first Toyota in 15, with Chaz Mostert alongside.
The Garry Rogers Motorsport Wildcard will start from 21st.
A co-driver only session kicks off Saturday proceedings at 10:05am AEDT.