James Golding Stuns with Pole Position in Sydney 500 Qualifying
In a spectacular start to the 2026 Supercars season, unheralded star James Golding has seized pole position in a record-breaking qualifying session at the Sydney 500. The event, held at Sydney Motorsport Park, saw Golding deliver a stunning performance that set a new benchmark for the Gen3 era.
Record-Breaking Lap and Team Triumph
Golding, who recently moved from PremiAir Nulon Racing to Blanchard Racing Team (BRT) in the off-season, clocked an impressive lap time of one minute 27.951 seconds. This achievement not only earned BRT their first-ever pole position but also shattered the previous Gen3 record of 1.28.690 seconds set by Tickford star Cam Waters last year. In a further boost for the team, Golding will share the front row with teammate Aaron Cameron, who finished just behind him, securing a remarkable one-two qualifying result for BRT.
Top Contenders and Surprising Outcomes
Reigning Bathurst 1000 winner Matt Payne qualified third fastest, followed closely by last year's grand finalist Broc Feeney in the new Triple Eight Ford Mustang. Feeney's teammate Will Brown secured eighth place. Anton De Pasquale, driving for Team 18—now Chevrolet's factory-support team—managed to break into the top 10, finishing fifth as one of only two Camaros to do so. Rookie Zach Bates impressed by qualifying sixth in the Matt Stone Racing Camaro, while Brad Jones Racing driver Andre Heimgartner rounded out the top 10, marking Toyota's best performance in their first qualifying session.
Disappointments and Challenges
In contrast, reigning champion Chaz Mostert faced a tough debut in the Walkinshaw TWG Racing Toyota Supra, qualifying a disappointing 20th for Friday's season-opening 100km sprint. His teammate Ryan Wood also struggled, settling for 15th place. Other notable setbacks included Brad Jones Racing drivers Cam Hill finishing 19th and Macauley Jones ending up dead-last in 24th. Kai Allen, one of last year's grand finalists and Payne's Grove Racing teammate, qualified 17th.
Session Highlights and Upcoming Race
Heimgartner had initially set a short-lived record of one minute 28.5953 seconds early in the 30-minute session, showcasing the pace of the new Supra. The first race of the 2026 Supercars season is scheduled to get underway at 7.50pm (AEDT), promising an exciting showdown based on these qualifying results.
Qualifying Results Summary
- James Golding (Blanchard Racing Team)
- Aaron Cameron (Blanchard Racing Team)
- Matt Payne (Grove Racing)
- Broc Feeney (Triple Eight Race Engineering)
- Anton De Pasquale (Team 18)
