Bathurst 500: Anton de Pasquale sets fastest lap in qualifying, Chaz Mostert in Holden debut and Will Brown crashes in practice at Mount Panorama

No Scott McLaughlin, no worries as Anton de Pasquale tops the morning session. But it wasn’t good news for Nick Percat. All the latest from Mount Panorama.

Chaz Mostert was the fastest in both practice sessions at Mount Panorama. Picture: Getty Images

Anton de Pasquale jumped into the hot seat at Dick Johnson Racing after three-time champion Scott McLauglin’s departure and he delivered in his first qualifying session for the team at Mount Panorama.

In a blistering start to his campaign with the Ford team at the Bathurst 500, de Pasquale put himself in prime position to capitalise in the top-10 shootout ahead of Saturday’s first 250km race after setting the fastest lap in qualifying.

The 25-year-old topped the morning session ahead of Triple Eight’s reigning Bathurst champion Shane van Gisbergen, Tickford Racing star Cameron Waters and Chaz Mostert, who was quickest in opening practice on Friday.

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Anton De Pasquale set the fasted lap in qualifying at the Bathurst 500. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Tim Slade, returning to the main game after a year out, rookie Brodie Kostecki, Will Davison, Scott Pye, Jamie Whincup and Mark Winterbootom also booked a place in the shootout.

de Pasquale said

“We were struggling a bit yesterday, but obviously we put in a big effort overnight and our Shell V-Power guys did a good job and the car was a bit more to my liking and we did a better job,” de Pasquale said.

“We chipped away at it as the session went on, we went pretty aggressive with it and here we are.

“I did my job, the car was good and I couldn’t be happier.”

De Pasquale joins the DJR squad after three years at Erebus Motorsport, finishing eighth in last year’s championship.

While the Ford driver enjoyed a strong start, Brad Jones Racing’s Nick Percat struck trouble in qualifying when he was forced back to the pits with engine trouble, ending his session early.

There was trouble for Brad Jones Racing’s Nick Percat on Saturday. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It was a huge effort from the Erebus Motorsport crew, who pulled an all-nighter in the garage to get rookie Will Brown’s car back on the track for qualifying after his heavy practice shunt on Friday.

Brown’s car was badly damaged when he found the wall at the Dipper midway through opening practice in his first day behind the wheel and there were fears the team would not be able to repair the car in time for Saturday’s action.

“It’s been an awesome effort by our crew to get the car back up and running before qualifying today,” Erebus CEO Barry Ryan said.

“There were stages where we thought we wouldn’t get it done but we eventually got to a stage and convinced ourselves we could fix it.

“It’s a massive credit to the team, it’s as good as you can do at the track for a repair.”

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Chaz fires first shot for vacant Supercars crown

- James Phelps

Chaz Mostert went on a season opening Bathurst blitz to emerge as a shock contender to become the next Scott McLaughlin.

Returning to Mount Panorama 133 days after season 2020 ended with McLaughlin winning his third title straight, Chaz Mostert went quickest in both practice sessions to show he will be a contender for the vacant V8 crown.

Considered a dark horse to replace Indy Car gone star McLaughlin as the sport’s best driver, the Walkinshaw Andretti United driver delivered an early upset by beating both Red Bull and Dick Johnson Racing with a double showing of speed.

“He shapes up as a real contender in 2021,” declared V8 legend Mark Skaife said.

“He is fit, fast and is ready for a big year. He didn’t drive the car as well as he would of liked last year but they have made a lot of changes over the off-season.”

Chaz Mostert tears around the Mount Panorama track in practice on Friday. Picture: Getty Images

Skaife predicted a mouth-watering battle between Mostert and Cam Waters after the Holden driver edged out his old Ford teammate in a thrilling first day serving of Supercars.

Tickford pilot Waters looked to have snared the fastest lap of the day until Mostert replied with a chart-topping time of 2.04.78.

“The prospect of Mostert vs Waters is something that has me very excited,” Skaife said.

“I am loving it because we all know they have a history and they could go on to become the rivals of the year.”

In a frenetic season start that was highlighted by a Will Brown crash, Mostert edged out Waters in the first session before doing it again in the second.

Brown conceded a mistake was to blame for what was the first shunt of the season.

“It was just a complete balls-up on my half,” the Erebus driver said.

“I‘m not going to let it get us down, it’s one of those things. You definitely shouldn’t do it as a rookie, I did everything wrong as a rookie.

“I was just getting a lot of understeer through there on all my other laps and I sort of tried to turn in early to try stop the understeer and get in a bit closer. But I turned in a bit too early in the end and did that. It‘s really disappointing, I’m probably out for the weekend now.

“It sucks for the team, it sucks for everyone but we‘ll keep our chins up and keep swinging on.”

The Mount Panorama brutality continued in practice session two with the red-flag waved just minutes after the field left the line.

Prompting another stoppage, Macauley Jones got bogged in a sand trap after firing off the track at the Chase.

Waters a 2.04.79 to go to the top before Mostert stole the show to set up what could become the sport’s next great rivalry.

Originally published as Bathurst 500: Anton de Pasquale sets fastest lap in qualifying, Chaz Mostert in Holden debut and Will Brown crashes in practice at Mount Panorama