Ford’s Anton De Pasquale has begun the 2022 Supercars championship by sealing pole position for Saturday’s 300km season-opening race at Sydney Motorsport Park.
The Shell V-Power Racing star — who recorded seven poles at the Eastern Creek-based circuit last year — clocked a 1 minute 29.3599 second lap in Saturday’s top 10 shootout to pip Holden rival Shane van Gisbergen to P1.
“Good place to start the first race of the year,” De Pasquale told Fox Sports.
“We’ll see how this 300km goes later tonight.
“It’s going to be a cool race and I’m looking forward to it but we’re at the right end of the field and have started the year off strong.”
Red Bull Ampol Racing’s van Gisbergen will start from second on the grid for the 77-lap race under lights after his flying lap of 1:29.5504.
“That was cool,” the New Zealander told Fox Sports.
“That was one of the best laps I’ve ever done round here, I even did a little fist bump, but Anton and Ludo’s (Lacroix, De Pasquale’s engineer) set-up — they’re just awesome here since Scotty (McLaughlin ) days.
“I feel like we got better but it’s still that annoying two tenths … now we can be there in the race and see how we go.”
Ford’s Tim Slade was the big mover in the shootout, having qualified for it eighth, he will start the race third on the grid after his 1:29.9475 lap.
He’ll be alongside New Zealander Andre Heimgartner on the second row of the grid.
De Pasquale’s teammate Will Davison made an error on his shootout lap, locking up his rear brakes in the middle sector and it proved costly as he ws just sixth fastest.
Bathurst champion Chaz Mostert was also unable to find the right pace in the shootout and will start the race from P8.
Van Gisbergen’s teenage teammate Broc Feeney, racing for the first time as the replacement to retired seven-time champion Jamie Whincup, will start from 10th.
Ford youngster Jake Kostecki had an eventful run in the earlier qualifying session, going off the track early and onto the slippery wet grass before then being handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Heimgartner later in the session — the Tickford Racing driver will start from the back row.
None of Tickford’s four cars made the top 10 shootout, including leading driver Cam Waters who’ll start the race in a lowly 22nd place alongside Bathurst winner Lee Holdsworth.
Australian Associated Press
