MOTORSPORT: Whincup puts 88 into the wall

The chequered flag had waved to end the fourth V8 Supercar practice session at Bathurst but Triple 8 Racing's Jamie Whincup must have been in a hurry to get back to the pits because he kept the boot in only to lose control and smack the wall hard at The Cutting. Hard enough to require a tow truck to bring it back to the garage. He would later say that he was expecting a 'talking to' by team principal Roland Dane.

Word quickly spread down pitlane that the car might not be repaired in time for qualifying just two hours away, but they hadn't reckoned on the crack Triple 8 crew and Whincup duly rolled out to qualify the car third (2:07.74sec) for Saturday’s Top 10 Shootout.

Quickest, though, was Garth Tander from the Holden Racing Team (2:07.66). HRT hasn't had a stellar year but it is always a force to be reckoned with at Bathurst and this year the team is under the watchful eye of Ryan Walkinshaw, the son of late team founder Tom.

New dad Tander looked very relaxed and is sharing his car with young Nick Percat, who he has mentored through junior categories and who did a great job at the Phillip Island enduro round.

Qualifying was a tight as ever with the top 18 separated by only one second. A stand-out was David Reynolds, who is just about the hottest property in V8 Supercar at the moment, with a number of teams trying to wrestle him away from the Kelly Racing fold.

Reynolds was fourth quickest, just 0.17sec behind Tander and out-qualified team owners Rick (16th, 2:08.52) and Todd Kelly (19th, 2:08.72), who have both won Bathurst. Reckon there could be some tension there?