BATHURST 12 HOUR FROM THE INSIDE: QUALIFYING

It can’t be denied that, among a field chock-full of GT3 race cars, the three diminutive Fiat Abarth 695 Assetto Corse racers weren’t going to be challenging for pole position – but their sheer pace has surprised.

During Saturday qualifying for the Bathurst 12 Hour, professional driver Luke Youlden made good on his practice promise by guiding the Class F #96 Fiat – which he will share with motoring.com.au’s Mike Sinclair – to a lap time of 2:31.2698.

 Fittingly, Car 96 will line up alongside its stablemate, Paul Stokell going one better with a 2:31.0239 in Car 95. The third team car posted a 2:36.5804 in the hands of young gun Luke Ellery.

The two lead cars were quick enough to place ahead of larger, more powerful opposition, including a Subaru Impreza STI, BMW 335i and Seat Leon Supercopa racer.

Stokell will take the start from 35th position; Youlden from 36th, with Matt Campbell starting from 40th position in Car 59.

For Sinclair it was a relaxed day, his 2:37.5 lap on Friday ensuring he was comfortably within the 130 per cent lap time cutoff. 

“We’ve left qualifying to the pros,” he said casually. “My focus now is on getting in the car tomorrow and bringing the car home.” Then he went and had a massage…

The Performance Parts & Engineering-prepared Abarths ran reliably in the baking ambient heat, save for a boost sensor hose on Car 95 late in the afternoon – a case of ‘plug it back in and go’.

Crews will have some early respite from the heat come race day, with the green flag due to drop at 6:15am. From there, only 12 hours separate Abarth Fiat Motorsport from a successful weekend.

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