Motorsport: Whincup sets fastest qualifying lap; three Kiwis in top 10

Jamie Whincup during practice for the Bathurst 1000. Photo / Getty Images

Jamie Whincup has set the fastest time in his Red Bull Racing Holden in Friday qualifying for the Bathurst 1000.

The four-time Bathurst winner will take the quickest time into tomorrow's top 10 shootout - clocking a 2:05.048s - beating out Kiwi Scott McLaughlin by just a tenth of a second.

Whincup and co-driver Paul Dumbrell have dominated the event so far recording the fastest time in each other practice sessions as well as qualifying.

"Very happy to finish on provisional pole," Whincup said afterwards. "We just have to do a good job in the shootout.

"The car is very good. Absolutely no complaints about the car speed whatsoever but unfortunately that doesn't guarantee us anything Sunday so we will keep our heads down."

Two other Kiwis will feature in tomorrow's top 10 shootout - Fabian Coulthard recorded the fifth fastest time in his DJR Team Penske Ford while championship leader Shane Van Gisbergen was sixth quickest in his Red Bull Racing Holden.

The other drivers that will feature in the shootout for the first 10 grid spots for Sunday's race are Tim Slade, Chaz Mostert, Mark Winterbottom, Scott Pye, Garth Tander and Michael Caruso.

Positions 11 down have now been set for Sunday's grid with only the top 10 cars featuring in the shootout. Chris Pither will start on the sixth row after clocking the 12th fastest qualifying time in the Super Black Racing Ford.

Big names that failed to fire included James Courtney (16th), Rick Kelly (20th) and Craig Lowndes (21st).

"I probably didn't do a clean job and the car wasn't perfect either," a disappointed Lowndes said.

"We have been struggling with the car all week. The way the competition is you don't have to be far off to be out of it.

"We started outside the top 10 last year and obviously we start outside the top 10 now.

"We will try to make this a fast race car now."

Shae Davies, who shares the Erebus Holden with Kiwi Chris van der Drift, and Simona de Silvestro in the Supergirls Nissan both ended up stuck in the sand trap at the end of Conrod Straight and triggered red flags which automatically eliminates them from the session.
They will start at the back of the grid as a result.