Van Gisbergen snatches pole for Sydney finale

Shane van Gisbergen has snatched pole position for Race 19 at the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight with a time set after the chequered flag.

Van Gisbergen was one of four drivers — along with Andre Heimgartner, Bryce Fullwood and Brodie Kostecki — to lead the times as the flag flew.

Saturday night race winner Kostecki (#99 Coca-Cola Camaro) led after the first runs, and was again the benchmark after the second as the times fell.

Fullwood (#14 Middy’s Electrical Camaro) loomed to score his maiden pole before being usurped by Brad Jones Racing teammate Heimgartner.

However, van Gisbergen (#97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro) went fastest of all with a 1:29.9100s to claim career pole No. 48 — but only by 0.0563s.

It was van Gisbergen’s first pole since Race 7 in Perth back in April — which coincided with his most recent Supercars win.

Broc Feeney (#88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro), who was 16th in qualifying and 11th in the race on Saturday, improved late to jump to third ahead of Fullwood and Kostecki.

Cam Waters (#6 Monster Energy Mustang) was first Ford home in sixth ahead of Mark Winterbottom (#18 DEWALT Camaro), with David Reynolds eighth aboard his repaired Penrite Ford.

Deposed points leader Will Brown (#9 Coca-Cola Camaro) will start 10th alongside Anton De Pasquale (#17 Shell V-Power Mustang).

Chaz Mostert, meanwhile, will start 16th aboard his #25 Mobil 1 Optus Ford, having come home second in Saturday night’s race.

Drivers had 15 minutes to set the grid for Race 19, and Feeney hit early trouble when he picked up a track limits violation at Turn 8.

Cars returned to the track immediately after the green flag commenced the session, with Tim Slade (#23 Nulon Camaro) clocking a 1:31.4609s.

Teammate James Golding (#31 Nulon Camaro) powered to first with a 1:30.8168s, before Waters fired in a 1:30.4904s.

Kostecki emerged quickest through the first runs with a 1:30.2569s ahead of van Gisbergen, who was second with a 1:30.3832s.

De Pasquale was third ahead of Reynolds, Waters, Heimgartner, Brown, Matt Stone Racing duo Jack Le Brocq and Cameron Hill, with Fullwood, Feeney and Mostert 10th through 12th.

The times tumbled in the closing seconds once cars returned to the track, with Fullwood a surprise contender for pole with a 1:30.1675s.

Fullwood put 0.0508s on Kostecki, before Heimgartner — Saturday’s pole-sitter — put 0.2s on his BJR teammate.

Van Gisbergen went fastest of all, securing his first pole at Sydney Motorsport Park since the second event in November 2021.

“I’ve just got to thank the team,” said van Gisbergen, who was classified seventh on Saturday after a penalty over contact with Brown.

“Like, I’m struggling with this thing, but yeah, the car’s awesome, and obviously Broc third there as well, the team have done a great job.

“Let’s see what happens. Let’s see how they try and take this one off us.”

The 36-lap Race 19 will commence at 3:30pm local time/AEST.