Triple Eight 1-2 in Bathurst 500 qualifying

TRIPLE Eight has stamped its authority on the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship with a 1-2 result in Saturday qualifying at the Thrifty Bathurst 500.

A 20-minute session held in dry but overcast conditions set the field for a Top 10 Shootout ahead of the afternoon’s 250km season-opener.

Broc Feeney ended the session on top ahead of teammate Will Brown, having paced a practice session apiece on Friday.

Brown fired the first shot in qualifying with 2:06.4426s before Feeney improved first to 2:06.1079s, and then a 2:05.9872s during his final run.

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Brown’s own improvement ended up 0.2983s adrift but ahead of David Reynolds, who made a strong start to his tenure with Team 18.

Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert was the fastest of the Fords in fourth ahead of Todd Hazelwood, who continued his strong Friday form for Erebus Motorsport.

Anton De Pasquale, James Golding, impressive rookie Ryan Wood, Cameron Hill and Richie Stanaway filled sixth through 10^th.

However, several late laps are under investigation due to a yellow flag at the final corner, caused by Matt Payne beaching his Grove Racing Mustang in the gravel trap.

That left Payne, who won the season finale in Adelaide last November, out of the Shootout in 14^th.

Others to narrowly miss the cut included Nick Percat, Jack Le Brocq and Bryce Fullwood, who’ll start 11^th through 13^th.

It was a disappointing session for Tickford Racing, whose drivers Thomas Randle and Cam Waters managed just 16^th and 20^th respectively.

The session, though, was all about Triple Eight and Feeney, who enters the season as a championship favourite following the departure of former teammate Shane van Gisbergen.

MORE: Can Triple Eight continue its opening race domination?

“It’s a great start obviously to be here, but obviously there’s a Shootout to come, which I am really looking forward to,” said Feeney.

“Super different to yesterday, they were some of the most challenging conditions around here with the wind and the dirt at the top of the hill.

“We saw with Super2 it was going to be really fast.

“I had to work hard to beat Cooper Murray’s time (2:06.2189s in Super2), he did a great job, so I think we picked the right guy there (for a Triple Eight wildcard), but it was a great morning.”

RESULTS: Qualifying for Race 1, 2024 Thrifty Bathurst 500