CAT Racing Bathurst qualifying

Cat Racing's strong assault on this year's V8 Supercar 1000 continued at Bathurst today with John Bowe recording the 5th fastest time in qualifying. Bowe stopped the clocks at 2:10.224 in the Ford Falcon he will share with Simon Wills.

The Tasmanian actually topped the qualifying order early in the session, but was unable to improve toward the end of the 45 minute qualifying attack.

"As the cloud cover came in, our car picked up a bit of understeer which really killed our time across the top of the mountain," Bowe said.

"I could get close to that time, but wasn't able to break into the nine second bracket.

"Overall though, I am very pleased with the car and I believe Simon and I will have a very strong chance in Sunday's race."

Bowe will now contest tomorrow's top 15 shoot-out which will finally determine the front of grid for Sunday's 1000km endurance race.

"Certainly we have a great chance to improve in the shoot-out, but there is also a chance to move all the way back to 15th if you get it wrong," Bowe said.

"Qualifying is not the key element in this race - pit tactics are going to be the decider on Sunday."

Ford drivers Glenn Seton and Craig Lowndes topped the timesheet in qualifying today - Seton recording the fastest time at 2:09.677.

Simon Wills was unfortunate not to step aboard the Briggs Motorsport built machine today - a red flag shortening the morning practice session.

"I was unlucky today because they called the session off just as I had got into the car," he said.

"I will have plenty of time tomorrow afternoon and Sunday morning to get some more laps under my belt.

"I am still pretty comfortable in the car and pretty close to John's times so that is the most important thing - we are pretty confident."

<pre> QUALIFYING 1. - Seton/Richards (F) - 2:09.677 2. - Lowndes/Crompton (F) - 2:09.853 3. - Skaife/Longhurst (H) - 2:09.962 4. - Bright/Mezera (H) - 2:10.228 5. - BOWE/WILLS CAT FORD - 2:10.224 6. - Ingall/Perkins (H) - 2:10.486 7. - Ellery/Brabham (F) - 2:10.666 8. - Kelly/Murphy (H) - 2:10.683 9. - Tander/Bargwanna (H) - 2:10.741 10. - Ritter/McLean (F) - 2:10.895 11. - Ambrose/Wakefield (F) - 2:10.904 12. - Radisich/Johnson (F) - 2:10.907 13. - Richards/Canto (F) - 2:11.301 14. - Morris/Stitchbury (H) - 2:11.455 15. - Besnard/White (F) - 2:11.654

F Ford Falcon H Holden Commodore

PROGRAM SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 10.15am - Top 15 Warm-up 10.45am - Top 15 Shoot-Out 4.20pm - Final Practice

- Paul Ryan