Finals Series drivers secure Top 10 Shootout spots at Sandown 500

Matt Payne topped the Sandown 500 qualifying session with a lap of 1:08.4079, followed by Brodie Kostecki of Dick Johnson Racing. Chaz Mostert moved from outside the top ten to third place on his final lap for Walkinshaw TWG Racing.

"Tough session," Mostert said, noting the changing weather and a dry-down track that surprised many drivers. "I had a nightmare run yesterday, so it’s a good reward for our car crew. They changed transaxles and fixed a few mechanicals on the car yesterday. A credit to car #2 as well. We were probably not right where we wanted to be set up yesterday. I’m so lucky I’ve got a really good teammate that’s always pushing as hard as I am. Today it’s good to get a result and get up there. Top 10, I kind of wish that was it for quali. I would take a P3 after yesterday. I’ll tighten the belts and have a red-hot crack and see what we can do."

Cameron Waters recorded fourth fastest for Tickford Racing, with teammate Thomas Randle fifth, the highest-placed driver not in the Finals Series. Broc Feeney, Anton De Pasquale, Will Brown and Cooper Murray completed the Top 10.

Zach Bates of Matt Stone Racing missed the Shootout by a margin of 0.0001 seconds. Kai Allen and Ryan Wood, both teammates of Payne and Mostert, failed to make the top ten, with Allen finishing 12th after an off-track excursion and a spin at Turn 2-3.

"I had a massive moment on the last lap, which is a bit unfortunate," Allen said. "I nearly crashed the car. It’s just so scary in those conditions. You misjudge the car placement by a millimetre and then as soon as you have a moment, you get off-line and it’s hold on for dear life. Thankful to not destroy the car, but I’m upset for the boys. I feel really bad that I didn’t get that last lap done because that was critical. Got a lot of work to do this afternoon and I’m sure we’ll try and fight hard."

The Top 10 Shootout is scheduled to begin at 12:05 pm AEDT.