Zak Best's Return: A Pole-Positioning Comeback Story
In a thrilling turn of events, Zak Best and Anderson Motorsport have claimed their first pole positions in the DUNLOP Super2 Series since 2023, igniting excitement among fans and leaving everyone wondering what's next.
But here's where it gets controversial... or at least, a little unexpected. The Blanchard Racing Team dominated the top five spots in a chaotic qualifying session, all within a tenth of a second of each other. And this is the part most people miss: the session introduced a brand-new circuit layout, adding an extra layer of challenge.
Just half an hour before the session, officials dropped a bombshell - the Boost Mobile Qualifying would be held on the shorter Druitt configuration due to track repairs. This 'flip-flop' layout, exiting at Turn 4 and rejoining at Turn 8, became the stage for an intense battle.
The shorter layout, combined with wet conditions, created a unique and complex scenario. With only 25 minutes on the clock, drivers had to navigate the tight turns and make split-second decisions. The initial focus was on the number of drivers who pushed the limits, especially through the Turn 4, 5 complex.
Ben Gomersall set the early pace, continuing his strong form from Friday, but it was Lochie Dalton who set the benchmark with a blistering 1:01.1622s lap. Cody Burcher and Reuben Goodall followed, but it was Zak Best who truly made his mark, jumping to second and closing in on Dalton's time.
As the session progressed, Bailey Sweeny joined the top two, creating a 1-2 for Blanchard Racing Team. But the real drama unfolded when Brad Vaughan, a two-time pole sitter, took the top spot with a mere 0.0228s advantage. With fresh tyres, Best fought back, snatching pole position from Vaughan and then making a daring move at Turn 2, running wide and into the grass.
The final results saw Best and Vaughan on the front row, separated by just 0.0754s, with Ryan Tomsett, Gomersall, and Dalton completing the top five. A truly nail-biting finish!
And this is where the controversy might spark - with the short layout used for qualifying, will the full layout be utilized for the race? The decision is yet to be announced, leaving fans and competitors alike on the edge of their seats.
So, what do you think? Should the short layout be a permanent feature, or is the full layout the true test of skill? Let's discuss in the comments and share your thoughts on this exciting development!
