South Australian young gun Nick Percat has broken the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia qualifying lap record by 1.2 seconds at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, and in doing so, claimed the TAG Heuer Pole Position Award.
Already holding the top position in Saturday morning’s qualifying session, Percat posted a time of 2:08.7722 in his final lap to increase the margin to his nearest rival Warren Luff to 0.83 seconds.
Percat’s quickest lap surpassed the previous Carrera Cup qualifying lap record of Craig Baird (2011) of 2:09.9866. The time was also quicker than the race lap record, and ultimate lap record of the championship, which was also posted by Baird (2:09.4010) in 2012.
Percat was the quickest driver of the session from Luff, Craig Baird, Steven Richards, Shae Davies and Michael Patrizi.
Max Twigg was the quickest of the Elite Class drivers and claimed the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge Award, from Adam Gowans, Duvashen Padayachee, Shane Smollen, Tony Bates, Damien Flack, Paul Kelly, James Bergmuller and Marc Cini in 15th.
Stephen Grove will begin Race 1 in 16th from newcomer Gavin Bullas, Renee Gracie, Tony Walls, Michael Loccisano and Rusty French.