Watching the Top Ten Shootout unfold, it was an amazing experience (as usual). And as usual, the excitement naturally built to a crescendo, as the best drivers in Australasia competed for the First Place Starting position in the 2018 Bathurst 1000.
2018 Bathurst 1000 Top Ten Shootout just as exciting as ever
But at the end of the day, it was David Reynolds who was the fastest man and would start on Pole, for the ‘great race’ on Sunday.
Armorall Top Ten Shootout winner is David Reynolds
The 2017 great race winner is one of the more ‘relaxed’ and unique individuals on the Virgin Australia V8 Supercars circuit. He is the laconic Aussie race car driver – he is ‘as relaxed as a lizard on a hot stone’ and never short of a few choice words when questioned.
Penrite Erebus driver Reynolds was the second-to-last driver out in the Top Ten Shootout and recorded a 2:04.0589s. That would not be eclipsed, and give his team a huge boost in confidence, ahead of Sunday’s great race.
And after this display below, his race-skill should not be questioned any further. Reynolds qualified in second place, and then topped all the drivers, to claim the Top Ten Shootout on Saturday afternoon.
“I’m just ecstatic,” Reynolds told FoxSports after the race. “My young team-mate did a pretty amazing time, I couldn’t let him beat me, so I had to go a couple of tenths down the road. I threw everything at it, that’s all I had left.”
Anthony de Pasquale impresses with great performance
What was the big surprise to many though, was how youngster Anton de Pasquale achieved the provisional pole place when holding the lead after being the second driver to begin the Top Ten Shootout.
The junior driver in the Erebus Motorsport team put down a great time, and then had to hold his nerve as every one of the leading drivers made an attempt to dethrone him. He outlasted greats like Craig Lowndes, former champions like James Courtney and current series leader Shane van Gisbergen.
He still held the top position, after the flying-Kiwi Scott McLaughlin had completed his circuit of the track. All eyes were on the Erebus driver until his teammate David Reynolds crashed the youngster’s party. (At that time) the team held places one and two, as the final car prepared to hit the Mt Panorama circuit.
Last car in Top Ten Shootout, Whincup unable to deny Reynolds glory
Jamie Whincup has been an exceptional driver on the Mt Panorama circuit. The multiple time winner has shown his class in qualifying, yet as the final car attempted to claim the first place, Whincup was not able to improve on his qualifying time.
He did go 300th of a second faster than de Pasquale, but was shaded by 2000th of a second, into 2nd place on the grid by David Reynolds. The Erebus Team were exceptional, and might well have had the fastest cars today – if it wasn’t for the sheer class of Whincup.
And only just bettered [in terms of the final lap times]. So de Pasquale should be extremely proud, as was team owner Betty Klimenko.
The truly independent team from Melbourne have shown real courage over the last V8 Supercars seasons, and she and her small team are now achieving ‘big things’ in Australian motorsport.
Final places of 2018 Armorall Top Ten Shootout
#Bathurst Top 10 shootout always riveting viewing Craig Lowndes finished 9th in his last ever shoot-out David Reynolds on pole..Great coverage on Fox..What a brilliant Aussie tradition & perfect antidote for no footy Love Bathurst pic.twitter.com/A7vFR6PNaV
— NMGSports (@NMGSports) October 6, 2018
As the dry conditions enabled teams to maximize preparations, the top ten shootout is the culmination of Saturday’s racing schedule. Now, teams will complete their set-ups, detail their cars and be ready for the race start at 11:10 am (AUS).
The great race will attract as many viewers as ever, with the popularity of the event holding a traditional place in Australasian motorsports. Families and friends will gather around the TV set, to follow the race start and coverage, throughout the 161 lap race.
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