BAM Media
Reigning Fujitsu V8 Supercar Champion Steve Owen has secured the ARMOR ALL pole position for tomorrow’s WPS Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, NSW.
Owen, who is this weekend sharing the driving duties in the Supabarn Supermarkets Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV with James and Theo Koundouris, set a scintillating lap time around the famous Mount Panorama circuit to finish almost two seconds clear of his nearest rival.
“Qualifying on pole is a great result but tomorrow will be a long day,” said Owen.
“I’m currently negotiating to try and get back into the Main series (V8 Supercars) and wanted to come out and show the people I’m trying to do deals with that I have the right stuff by qualifying on pole – and I’ve been able to do that today.
“This race has got so many variables, none more so than a wide variety of makes and models which all have their strengths and weaknesses.
“I have two experienced guys in the car with me in Theo and James Koundouris so hopefully we can finish it off with a win tomorrow.”
Starting second on the grid for tomorrow’s once around the clock encounter, which begins at 6:30am, will be the Rondo Building Services BMW 335i driven by Luke Searle, Barry Morcom and Paul Stubber.
Competing in his first race since last year’s WPS Bathurst 12 Hour, Searle was delighted to have posted the second fastest time during qualifying.
“This is my first time back in the car in 12 months and so far I feel strong in the BMW,” said Searle.
“Against the Mitsubishi Evos it is quite tricky as they are each quicker than the other in different parts of the circuit, but that is what motor racing is all about, being tricky.”
Third fastest today was Klark Quinn in the VIP Petfoods Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV. The diminutive racer is this weekend sharing the driving duties with his father, Tony, and television personality Grant Denyer.
Over the past few years the Quinn father and son pair have become one of Australia’s most experienced endurance pairings having competed in the Nurburgring, Dubai and Sepang 24 Hour races along with the previous two WPS Bathurst 12 Hours. However, Klark Quinn rates Mount Panorama right up there with the best circuits in the world.
“There is just something about Mount Panorama,” said Quinn.
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