Reynolds clocked 2:04.0589s in the Erebus Penrite Commodore with Jamie Whincup the fastest qualifier for the top 10 finishing in 2:04.0683s, just 0.0094s slower.

Reynolds’ teammate and Bathurst rookie Anton De Pasquale (2:04.3498) was third after heading out second in the session.

 “My young teammate did a pretty amazing time, couldn’t let him beat me!” Reynolds joked after the thrilling shootout..

“That was everything I had. My car was amazing. Our cars were so fast; we’re first and third.

“The team’s done a brilliant job to roll out with this pace. My thing was good. My thing was amazing.”

De Pasquale was delighted with this third placing.

“It felt pretty good, car’s obviously in a really good window. Got a little bit excited at that last corner,”  he said of his shootout lap.

Supercars series leader Shane van Gisbergen sits beside De Pasquale on the grid after posting the fourth fastest time of 2:04.5385. Scott McLoughlin who set the fastest lap time ever over the mountain last year was fifth.

Cam Waters, Nick Percat and James Courtney were next. In his final full-time race as a full-time driver Craig Lowndes was ninth ahead of Garth Tander. 

“I think we’ve been fighting this steering problem the last couple of days. We fixed it - that’s the good thing - but we weren’t quite happy with the balance across the top. But gave it a red hot go! I think the track’s really fast,” Lowndes said.

David Reynolds (Commodore, Erebus Penrite Racing) 2:04.0589

Jamie Whincup (Commodore, Red Bull Holden Racing Team) 2:04.0683

Anton De Pasquale (Commodore, Erebus Penrite Racing) 2:04.3498

Shane van Gisbergen (Commodore, Red Bull Holden Racing Team) 2:04.5385

Scott McLaughlin (Falcon, Shell V-Power Racing Team) 2:04.5494

Cam Waters (Falcon, Monster Energy Racing) 2:04.7517

Nick Percat (Commodore, Blackwoods Racing)  2:04.7673

James Courtney(Commodore, Mobil 1 Boost Racing Team) 2:05.0034

Craig Lowndes (Commodore, Autobarn Lowndes Racing) 2:05.0835

Garth Tander (Commodore, Wilson Security Racing GRM) 2:05.1717