After enduring two previous qualifying defeats in the opening rounds of the Championship, Bryce Washington has today broken through for his first series pole position in the Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship, not only scoring the top spot for tomorrow’s first race but managing to defeat season long rival Hackett in the process.

Washington’s best lap of 1m35.5952 came on just his third of eight laps in this afternoon’s solitary 20 minute qualifying session, contested in what can only be described as perfect conditions at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway. The South Australian youngster was delighted to finally score the top spot in what has been a closely fought championship between the two drivers to date.

“Its great to be able to get our first pole of the year,” he enthused. “The car has been pretty good around here this weekend and we have been making some good progress. Obviously, the parity changes made to the Lamborghini have worked and brought the car back to the field, it looks about right because there is nothing in it.”

Washington predicted that the season long competition between himself and Hackett would continue in tomorrow’s two races. ”We’re happy to be in front because this is Hackett’s home track, but because it’s so close the racing should be really competitive – If we can get in front we should be looking really good because it’s quite difficult to pass here.” He said.

Hackett’s second continues an unbroken run of front row starts this season, the Lamborghini now running 1500 less RPM thanks to recent changes made in the championship’s first parity review by the series organisers. Hackett’s time placed him just two tenths behind Washington’s Porsche, setting up yet another intense battle between the Porsche and Lamborghini marques at the top of the timesheets.

Mark Eddy took his Quarterback Clothing Porsche 911 GT3 RS to a solid third place, the driver making his first ever appearance at the 3.9km Western Sydney Circuit. Eddy said that it was a learning process coming to grips with the fast and flowing circuit. ”I’ve been following some of the local’s around,” explained the Victorian based driver. “The car is pretty good and we’re setting some good times. It’s great to be in the top three and we should be looking pretty good for another top three result tomorrow.”

John Teulan’s Industry Central Ferrari 360 Challenge was a solid fourth place, just a scant three tenths up on round two winner Ian Palmer, the Honda NSX Driver again looking to score consistent results and challenge for a strong overall finish in tomorrow’s three heats. A philosophical sixth was Brennan IT Driver David Stevens, who is making his Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship and Porsche Driver’s Challenge series’ debut this weekend, cross entering his fierce Porsche 911 GT2 Turbo into both the APDC and GT classes.

After topping the timesheets in the afternoon practice session, Steven’s Porsche endured a number of minor technical maladies - including overheating and a lack of rear tyre pressure - to still figure strongly in the top six, Stevens confident that significant forward progress would be made in the races tomorrow. “I’m really happy to be here, the organisers have put in a lot of work making sure the car is eligible, and its great to finally be able to race it in what is a really strong field of cars,” he said. “It was disappointing with what happened in qualifying, but the car has a lot of potential – which we proved in practice. I’m looking forward to the rolling start tomorrow because the car should be really good off the mark.”

Topping the Australian Porsche Driver’s Challenge A Class was Simon Middleton, again impressive in his Porsche 911 GT3. In what is only his fifth race meeting in a car, Middleton’s time of 1m39.95 placed him smack bang in the middle of a gaggle of 14 cars covered by just two seconds, setting up an enticing mid pack battle tomorrow. “Fantastic!” Enthused a happy class pole sitter. “Great to be able to get the class pole in only my fifth meeting. The car is going really well – the guys at Fitzgerald Racing Services have done a great job to prepare the car as well as they have, and we are looking to be very competitive tomorrow.”

With the most competitive and largest field to date, this weekend’s third round of the Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship and Porsche driver’s challenge will be contested over three races tomorrow, each 10 laps in duration.