The Repco Supercars Championship drivers lapped up improved track conditions to drop the times significantly in qualifying for Races 5 and 6 at the MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint at Albert Park.
Penrite Racing’s Matt Payne took pole for Race 5 this evening by the barest of margins, just 0.007s clear of Monster Castrol Racing driver Cameron Waters.
Payne’s lap of 1m 46.654s highlighted how far the track evolution had come as Waters, Mobil 1 Optus Racing driver Chaz Mostert, Broc Feeney for Red Bull Ampol Racing in the first Camaro and Jack Le Brocq in the lead Erebus Motorsport entry filled out the top five.
Championship leader Will Brown was sixth from the TRADIE Beer Racing Camaro of David Reynolds, Tim Slade of PremiAir Nulon Racing, Penrite Racing’s Richie Stanaway and Thomas Randle rounded out the top 10 in the Castrol Racing Mustang.
Conditions were tough early as Stanaway and Nick Percat found at Turn 13, but improved quickly as a light sprinkle occurred prior to the session.
Turn 5 had its first victim of the day when Anton De Pasquale made contact with the outside wall, but still achieved 12th fastest.
Mostert lowered the mark again in the next session where it was again Payne and Waters providing the main competition.
Mostert’s last gasp 1m 46.322s usurped Payne’s earlier mark by 0.110s, with Waters third from bend Racing’s Percat and the Middy’s Racing Camaro of Bryce Fullwood rounded out the top five.
Feeney led the way for Red Bull Ampol Racing in sixth from De Pasquale, Davison, Brown and Le Brocq, with Cameron Hill just missing the top 10 in both sessions.
Just one race for today’s MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint action at 5:35pm AEDT.