Kostecki takes provisional Adelaide pole, van Gisbergen fourth
Brodie Kostecki makes big statement with provisional pole for Race 27
Points leader Kostecki beats Penrite duo David Reynolds and Matt Payne
Shane van Gisbergen qualified fourth after morning plagued by handling issues
Championship leader Brodie Kostecki has made a big statement in ARMOR ALL Qualifying with provisional pole for Saturday's VAILO Adelaide 500 opener.
Erebus Motorsport driver Kostecki (#99 Coca-Cola Camaro) pipped Penrite Racing duo David Reynolds (#26 Mustang) and Matt Payne (#19 Mustang), with Kostecki stealing top spot at the death.
After 15 frantic minutes of qualifying, the top three drivers were covered by just 0.0281s.
Kostecki leads Shane van Gisbergen by 131 points, and should he leave Saturday over 150 points ahead, he will clinch the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship.
Van Gisbergen, however, firmly kept himself in the discussion by qualifying fourth in his #97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro, which was plagued by a steering rack issue in Practice 2.
Regardless, provisional pole was a surprise for Kostecki, who was battling radio issues throughout the session.
"I thought [provisional] pole was a lot faster than what I did," said Kostecki, who has claimed eight ARMOR ALL Pole Positions this season.
"I probably put a little bit too much on the line there trying to do the lap, but stoked with that.
"I had no idea I was even in the Shootout or on [provisional] pole... the car felt okay out there, but it's so hard at street circuits, the cars are really lively on top of the track."
Penrite Racing rookie Payne, who recently turned 21, held provisional pole before Reynolds and Kostecki rose to the top at the death.
Payne was quickest after the first runs with a 1:19.0741s, with Reynolds behind on a 1:19.1683s. Van Gisbergen and Kostecki were just behind, with Will Brown (#9 Coca-Cola Camaro) fifth.
The chequered flag unfurled, and Thomas Randle (#55 Castrol Mustang) moved up seven positions to fifth on a 1:19.2261s. Reynolds took top spot off his teammate with a 1:19.0572s. Just seconds later, Reynolds was pipped by Kostecki.
The provisional top 10 is Kostecki, Reynolds, Payne, van Gisbergen, Randle, Anton De Pasquale (#11 Shell V-Power Mustang), Brown, Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang), Cam Waters (#43 Monster Energy Mustang), and James Golding (#31 Nulon Camaro).
Broc Feeney (#88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro) ended up 11th, copping a kerb hop on his penultimate lap. Feeney missed the top 10 by just 0.0481s.
Will Davison (#17 Shell V-Power Mustang) was 12th, ahead of South Australian duo Nick Percat (#2 Mobil 1 NTI Mustang) and Todd Hazelwood (#3 REDARC Mustang).
Other notables included Andre Heimgartner (#8 R&J Batteries Camaro) in 17th, with Scott Pye (#20 Toyota Forklifts Camaro) 20th after an off at the final corner on his final lap.
The top 23 drivers were covered by 0.9899.
Supercars will return to the track on Saturday for Practice 3 at 9:45am local time/10:15am AEDT, before the ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootout at 12:05pm local time/12:35pm AEDT.
The first 78-lap race of the weekend, Race 27, will commence at 2:50pm local time/3:20pm AEDT.
