With the full grid for the Bathurst 1000 not yet determined, it’s time for the top ten shootout to see who will start 2019’s Great Race from pole position.
» View full Bathurst 1000 2019 Top Ten Shootout results
Grid positions 11 through to 26 have already been set in stone, which means ten drivers will have one lap each in this session to claim the top spot in qualifying.
This is how the shootout works. The driver who qualified tenth in the provisional session on Friday will go out for their lap first, then the rest will follow in ascending order, all the way to the provisional pole-sitter – who in this case is Scott McLaughlin.
Despite pole not yielding the race win at the Mountain since 2009, the shootout lap and a shot at the top position is all about glory and the drivers getting their one-on-one opportunity to be the fastest around the 6.2-kilometre circuit.
As with all Supercars races, the track is divided into three timing intermediates, which comprise a lap of Mount Panorama.
(Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
From the control line, the first sector runs up until the Cutting, from where the entire trek across the top of the mountain and down towards Forrest’s Elbow is the second.
The final sector is the dash down Conrod Straight and the run back to the start/finish straight. Supercars’ fastest qualifying lap at Bathurst is the incredible shootout lap set by McLaughlin of a 2:03.831.
With it having rained during Friday’s qualifying session, there was no real indicative reading as to who’d be fastest in the dry. There is no guarantee, though, that the shootout will be a dry session, which could throw up a surprise result.
Across the duration of the shootout, conditions do vary and often setting a lap earlier than later can yield a faster lap or vice versa. This too can produce a differing outcome.
Six of the drivers contesting the shootout have claimed pole position in 2019, with McLaughlin being the benchmark with 14 to his credit. Behind the Kiwi is Chaz Mostert, who will be second-last out, preceded by Shane van Gisbergen, who is the highest placed Holden.
Quick also are the likes of Will Davison and Cameron Waters, who are also in the Tickford-prepared Ford Mustangs, while the Brad Jones Racing duo of Tim Slade and Nick Percat will also contest the shootout.
Prediction
Given his stellar qualifying form in 2019, it is difficult to look past McLaughlin producing another sensational lap for pole.
Tune in on The Roar from 4.50pm AEST for live blog coverage of the top ten shootout, as we get set to determine pole position for the Bathurst 1000.
Looking for great odds on racing and sport? Get into the action with PlayUp today. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Team Penske is under the same umbrella of ownership as the IndyCar Series itself, so it was imperative for to drop the hammer and protect their integrity—which, thankfully, they did.
Red Bull can’t rest on its laurels and if Perez can’t provide them with cover on the rare days that Verstappen is having trouble, it's time to look elsewhere.
The absolute vitriol against the Canadian that has come from the incident is beyond reprehensible.
The Long Beach Grand Prix is the Monaco of American motorsport, and this past weekend, the IndyCar Series reminded everyone exactly why. We witnessed…
New Zealand made a triumphant return to the Supercars championship calendar since the demise of the much-loved Pukekohe Park Raceway – as Taupō delivered…
It’s time that serious questions are asked of his Lance Stroll and his future in the team.
