Garry Jacobson has swept to Pole Position for tomorrow’s Dunlop Super2 Supercars Series race at Bathurst in the MEGA Fuels Nissan Altima after an enthralling qualifying session at Mount Panorama today.
After setting the pace early, a number of drivers eclipsed Jacobson’s original time before a red flag triggered a shootout in the few remaining minutes.
The MW Motorsport team had the setup dialled in perfectly for Jacobson to nab the prime position with a lap time of 2:06.0535 for tomorrow afternoon’s race.
After not competing in last year’s Dunlop Super2 event at Bathurst, it will be in fact Jacobson’s second consecutive Pole Position at the Mountain in the category, having grabbed the top spot ahead of the 2016 race.
This year’s Dunlop Super2 Series event is back to being a points paying round with double points up for grabs from the 41-lap race tomorrow.
Jacobson also completed a co-driver session in the Castrol Nissan for Sunday’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 this morning, where he ended eighth fastest.
Rick Kelly took to the car for qualifying, the Castrol-backed duo will start Sunday’s 161-lap Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 from 14th position.
The duo have continued to build pace throughout the course of the weekend and have shown consistency across all weather conditions, so should be in a good position to advance up the field come the race on Sunday.
Tomorrow will feature a warmup at 9:30am before the 250km race at 2:55pm. A one hour practice session for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will take place at 10am.
Garry is carrying special support to this year’s Bathurst 1000 with a group of local supporters backing him, including the Shepparton Motor Museum and Greater Shepparton City Council, Foott Waste, Challenger Valves, MGA Insurance, FIX Muscle Performance, Thompson Motors and Varapodio Orchards.
His 2018 Racing Program is officially supported by MEGA Fuels, RABBLE.club, Exedy, Challenger Valves and Actuators, PalmTrans, McQuinn Electrical and MGA Insurance Brokers.
FRIDAY QUOTEBOARD – GARRY JACOBSON:
“It was great to get a pole position here today, the MEGA Nissan was unbelievable on new tyres and it’s especially pleasing considering we’ve come here in a different car this time and qualified on pole – it’s been two Dunlop Super2 poles in our last two attempts in the category.
“This year, we’ve now had Pole Position at Adelaide, Sandown and Bathurst, which is where you want to be showing the pace. I’m really thankful I made the transition to MW Motorsport with the Nissan this year.
“MEGA Fuels have really stuck by me over the last couple of years through thick and thin and I feel as though we’re starting to give back to them now with our results. The consistency seems to be there right now, which is encouraging.
“Tomorrow’s 41-lap race is a long way around here, the key will be not to over-complicate things off the start and hold position and get some good drive off the line, then play through the pitstop strategy.
“For the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, Rick has qualified the Castrol Nissan in 14th position and ordinarily I’d think that would be a position where it would be pretty difficult to get a podium, but because Bathurst is Bathurst, 161 laps is a long way and we’ll just pick away at it all day long. I still think we can challenge for a podium, for sure.
“Rick and I are a good duo, we’ve been consistent with each other in all weather conditions, so we aren’t really losing anything from driver to driver – and the car is strong. It’s a big couple of days ahead, I’ll have a quiet night tonight and be ready to go tomorrow!”
HOW TO WATCH GARRY JACOBSON & THE SUPERCHEAP AUTO BATHURST 1000:
24/7: The Bathurst Channel
Foxtel, Fox Sports Channel 506
Foxtel 4K, Channel 444
Friday
7:30am-5:15pm – Fox Sports 506
12:00pm-5:00pm – Network TEN
Saturday
7:55am-6:15pm – Fox Sports 506
11:30am-6:00pm – Network TEN
Sunday
7:15am-6:30pm – Fox Sports 506/444
7:30am-6:00pm – Network TEN
ON-TRACK SESSION TIMES:
Friday
8:30am-9:30am – Bathurst 1000 Practice – Co-Driver Only
10:20am-11:00am – Dunlop Super2 Practice
11:15am-12:15am – Bathurst 1000 Practice
3:05pm-3:35pm – Dunlop Super2 Qualifying
3:50pm-4:30pm – Bathurst 1000 Qualifying
Saturday
9:30am-9:45am – Dunlop Super2 Warmup
10:00am-11:00am – Bathurst 1000 Practice
2:55pm-4:35pm – Dunlop Super2 Race – 41 Laps
5:10pm-5:55pm – Bathurst 1000 – Top 10 Shootout
Sunday
8:05am-8:25am – Bathurst 1000 Warmup
11:10am – Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 – 161 Laps
DUNLOP SUPER2 SERIES CALENDAR:
Adelaide 500 – March 1-4
Tasmanian Super Sprint – April 6-8
Perth Super Sprint – May 4-6
Townsville 400 – July 6-8
Sandown 500 – September 14-16
Bathurst 1000 – October 4-7
Newcastle 500 – November 23-25
FURTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
www.garryjacobson.com
www.megaltd.com.au
http://rabble.club
www.mwmotorsport.com.au
www.facebook.com/garryjacobsonmotorsport/
www.facebook.com/MEGARacing
www.facebook.com/mwmotorsport
https://www.instagram.com/garryjacobson/
https://www.instagram.com/megaracingau/
https://www.instagram.com/mwmotorsport/
