In a thrilling turn of events, young gun Ryan Wood has snatched provisional pole position from Supercars championship leader Broc Feeney ahead of the decisive grand final race in Adelaide. The Walkinshaw Andretti United star delivered a blistering lap to set up a dramatic showdown on the streets of Adelaide.
Qualifying Drama Sets the Stage
Ryan Wood produced a stunning lap time of one minute and 19.146 seconds to pip Feeney in the qualifying session that preceded the top-10 shootout. The session was packed with drama from start to finish, with drivers having to navigate varying track conditions after earlier showers left portions of the street circuit wet.
The action was briefly halted by a red flag after Erebus rookie Cooper Murray lost his rear-left wheel while trying to avoid slamming into the concrete barrier at turn eight. Murray, who was sitting fifth at the time, was relegated to last in 25th for bringing out the red flag.
Championship Battle Reaches Fever Pitch
All eyes remain firmly on the championship battle, where just 23 points separate leader Broc Feeney from his Walkinshaw Andretti United rival Chaz Mostert. Both drivers are chasing their maiden Supercars title, adding immense pressure to the final race of the season.
Mostert qualified in seventh position, while defending champion Will Brown was the next best finalist in eighth. Grove rookie Kai Allen rounded out the top ten qualifiers.
Feeney finds himself in the box seat to claim this year's title after winning Saturday's race ahead of runner-up Mostert. However, his rival cannot be counted out after the 33-year-old expertly carved through the grid from 12th to second in the previous race.
What Needs to Happen for Title Glory
The equation for Mostert to clinch the championship is clear but challenging. He needs to win the race and hope that Feeney - who is managing engine issues - finishes no better than fourth. This sets up a potential strategic battle that could go down to the final lap.
Further down the grid, Tickford ace Cam Waters endured another frustrating qualifying session, settling for 22nd and being outpaced by NASCAR driver and Tickford wildcard Austin Cindric, who qualified 21st.
The stage is now set for an unforgettable Adelaide grand final that will crown either Feeney or Mostert as the 2024 Supercars champion.
