Rookie Zach Bates claims pole position for Bathurst 1000

Rookie Zach Bates has secured pole position for the Bathurst 1000 after a performance in the top 10 shootout. The 22-year-old, driving for Matt Stone Racing, recorded a lap of 2 minutes 4.2062 seconds to beat Brodie Kostecki by 0.2850 seconds. Bates becomes the first rookie to claim pole at Bathurst since Marcos Ambrose in 2001.

Brodie Kostecki will start on the outside of the front row alongside Bates. Following them on the grid are Anton De Pasquale, Cooper Murray, Jack Le Brocq, Will Brown, Jayden Ojeda, David Reynolds, James Golding, and Matt Payne.

Defending champion Matt Payne will start from tenth on the grid. Payne noted his Mustang lacked the one-lap pace required to challenge for the front row.

New Zealand driver Ryan Wood will start from the back of the field after a 42g crash during Friday's practice. Wood stated, “You never give up at any place but especially here where you get 161 laps”.

Where reports differ

• One report identifies Matt Payne as a New Zealander, while another refers to him as the defending champion

Compiled from reports by Stuff, NZ Herald and RNZ.