Mount Panorama is primed for one of the closest qualifying shootouts in recent Supercars history, where ten drivers get a single flying lap to claim pole position for the prestigious Bathurst 1000. Friday’s preliminary running delivered a headline-grabbing performance from 22-year-old Matt Stone Racing driver Zach Bates, who stunned the paddock by clocking a 2:03.9376 lap. That effort marked the first sub-2:04 lap in the category’s Gen3 era, earning him the coveted right to run last in Saturday afternoon’s single-lap showdown.
Practice Revelations and the Chevrolet Front
Despite Bates securing the outright benchmark, the final practice session painted a more intricate picture of car balance and race pace. As detailed by motorsport publication Auto Action, Blanchard Racing Team driver James Golding led Saturday morning’s practice with a time of 2:05.2093 in his Ford Mustang. Anton De Pasquale followed closely in second, while Cooper Murray, Jayden Ojeda, and Bates rounded out the top five. Crucially, De Pasquale logged nine practice laps under the 2:07 threshold in his Team 18 Chevrolet, establishing exceptional consistency across the mountain circuit.
Chevrolet entries hold a mathematical edge entering the Top 10 Shootout, securing six of the ten spots, including the front three positions from Friday qualifying. Ford managed four spots inside the shootout bracket, while Toyota missed out entirely. Friday’s timing sheets revealed an intensely compressed field, with only 0.5615 seconds separating Bates at the top from Golding in tenth. Between fourth-placed Will Brown and ninth-placed Matt Payne, the margin was barely over a tenth of a second, underscoring that the slightest hesitation over the Mountain top or braking error at Forrest’s Elbow could radically reorder the grid.
The Running Order and Kostecki’s Threat
The cars will take to Mount Panorama in reverse order of Friday’s qualifying results, meaning Golding will open the session, followed by Payne, Ojeda, Jack Le Brocq, David Reynolds, Brodie Kostecki, Brown, Murray, De Pasquale, and finally Bates. Running first presents distinct variables for Golding; while track grip can improve as ambient temperatures shift, putting down an early lap in the low 2:04 bracket would instantly transfer maximum pressure to the garage.
A major wildcard remains reigning champion Brodie Kostecki. The Dick Johnson Racing driver is seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive Bathurst pole, having matched the historic marks of Peter Brock and Allan Moffat with his 2023, 2024, and 2025 poles. Kostecki placed sixth on Friday following an engine change prompted by straight-line speed deficits and an interrupted final run under yellow flags. Although he finished 13th in Saturday practice, his demonstrated ability to extract peak grip on a single lap ensures the competitors behind him cannot discount his presence.
Execution on the Edge
Ultimately, the battle for pole is expected to hinge on the final trio of Murray, De Pasquale, and Bates. While Bates possesses the ultimate single-lap pace displayed on Friday, the pressure of running last leaves no margin for error across the Dipper or down Conrod Straight. De Pasquale enters the session with the most comprehensive blend of speed and repeatability across the weekend, setting up an intense tactical duel where execution under isolated single-lap conditions will dictate the front row for the Great Race.