Kostecki dominates Shootout, Brown scores crucial front row

Brodie Kostecki has powered to Race 22 pole in in Surfers Paradise, with championship leader Will Brown securing a vital front row start for Sunday's Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 finale.

Kostecki put nearly 0.3s on his former teammate with a stunning 1:10.3150s, helping himself to his second Boost Mobile Pole in three attempts following his epic Bathurst lap.

For Brown, it was a critical performance on a day he could clinch the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship, with title rivals Chaz Mostert, Broc Feeney and Cam Waters only fourth, fifth and seventh.

Kostecki’s pole did, however, lock in a $25,000 payday for Waters. With six poles, Waters now cannot be beaten for the Boost Mobile Pole Champion prize, awarded to the driver with the most poles for the season.

"I'm glad I got this today, it makes up for yesterday. The car was really good in the race yesterday, tuned it up a bit for today and it was a rocketship then," Kostecki beamed.

"Looking forward to the race, hopefully it hangs on to it's tyres because it was pretty good on it yesterday, so big thanks to the whole crew.

"It's been a great few weeks, so hopefully we can finish off the weekend strong and have a good last round in Adelaide."

James Golding opened proceedings with a 1:11.4497s, which was blown out of the water by Richie Stanaway's 1:10.9993s.

As cloud cover enveloped Surfers Paradise, Jack Le Brocq pieced together a 1:10.7369s, which in itself was a solid return to form following his collision with Mark Winterbottom on Saturday.

Mostert opted for four roaded tyres, but a 1:10.7495s wasn't good enough to beat Le Brocq.

Brown, meanwhile, was fitted with four green tyres and powered to the top with a 1:10.5986s. In response, Kostecki fired in a 1:10.3150s to put nearly 0.3s on his former teammate, leaving the final four drivers with a mountain to climb.

Rookie Ryan Wood set a competitive first sector, but triggered the kerb loop sensor at Turn 8 in the beach chicane, swiftly ending his hopes at a fairytale maiden pole position.

Also fitted with green tyres, Feeney was unable to make an impression on the Erebus Camaros and teammate Brown, recording a 1:10.8197s to end up 0.5s down on Kostecki.

Waters was also unable to stay with Kostecki through the middle sector, and front locking into the last corner dropped the Saturday winner into sixth.

Last-man out Matt Payne was also well off Kostecki's pace, the Penrite Racing driver only sixth with a 1:10.8251s, handing the reigning champion a second pole on the Gold Coast.

"I think everyone has just dialed in their cars a little bit more and the track is still getting a little bit more rubber," Kostecki added.

"My car is definitely a lot better than yesterday so I'm looking forward to the race coming up soon, and congrats to Car #9 as well for starting P3, so it'll be great to get an Erebus podium."

When asked if he replicate Sunday Bathurst heroics, Kostecki added: "I hope so, I'll have my fingers crossed so we'll just have to wait and see."

Race 22 of the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will commence at 2:15pm local time/3:15pm AEDT.