Grid penalty strips Smith of career-best qualifying result

Jack Smith has lost a career-best starting grid position after he was slapped with a three-place penalty for Race 6.

Smith, who scored a career-best qualifying result of 10th in the knockout qualifying session, was found to have impeded Tickford Racing's Jack Le Brocq.

The SCT Logistics-backed Brad Jones Racing driver allegedly impeded Le Brocq, who qualified 16th, in Q2.

WATCH: SMITH REFLECTS ON QUALIFYING

The penalty elevates Penrite Racing's David Reynolds to 10th, with James Courtney and Jake Kostecki rising to 11th and 12th respectively.

The penalty also ensured Matt Stone Racing driver Kostecki recorded a career-best qualifying result.

Smith remains the best-placed BJR driver for the race, with Macauley Jones 17th ahead of Nick Percat in 19th.

WATCH: SMITH'S QUALIFYING BEST

Todd Hazelwood toiled through a torrid Q1 segment of qualifying and will line up on the last row.

Shane van Gisbergen scored a fourth pole of 2021 courtesy of a qualifying lap record, with Tickford's Cameron Waters to start alongside the #97 Red Bull Ampol entry on the front row.

The 44-lap Race 6 will commence at 4:25pm AEST on Saturday.