Motorsport: Skaife back where he left last year

Mark Skaife in his Holden Racing Commodore heads downhill on his way to qualifying fastest for today's top-10 shootout. Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Mark Skaife finished official qualifying for the Bathurst 1000 yesterday where he finished last year's race - at the head of the field.

The Holden Racing Team's top driver had a best lap of 2m 06.9764s, a whisker outside the qualifying record set by Greg Murphy in 2003.

Skaife will be partnered in the big race by Garth Tander.

Second qualifier was the top Ford driven by Jason Bright with a time of 2m 7.0967s.

He will team with Mark Winterbottom.

Third was the Holden to be driven by brothers Rick and Todd Kelly.

But one of the outstanding performances of a fine day darkened by the serious injury to Kiwi Mark Porter in one of the support races came from New Zealander Jason Richards, who was second in the big race last year.

His preparation had been upset by a crash by his team-mate, Andrew Jones, on Thursday, and he did not make the top 15 qualifying session.

But he topped the other division with a lap of 2m 7.6922s, and that was good enough for fourth place overall.

It was the fastest time the 30-year-old from Team Tasman had managed in his nine years of competing in the big race.

Greg Murphy was one place behind Richards followed by Supercar champion Russell Ingall, championship leader Craig Lowndes, Steven Richards, Dean Canto and Steven Johnson.

Matt Halliday and David Brabham qualified 14th.

Paul Radisich, who will drive the Team Kiwi Holden with Fabian Coulthard, had a best lap of 2m 9.7200. The team have a strategy of consistency rather than outright speed and are relatively happy with their efforts.

Craig Baird and Jason Bargwanna had a best of 2m 8.8672s and Alan Gurr and Kayne Scott missed the final qualifying session.

Conditions were perfect for fast times all day.

Lowndes, who had been quick early, finished one session with smoke pouring out of his Ford and never quite regained his momentum.

The top 10 qualifiers will have a one-lap shootout today to establish the front rows for the start of the race at 1pm (NZT) tomorrow.

The race should take close to seven hours.

The winners will receive the Peter Brock Trophy, a tall silver cup unveiled yesterday for the first time.

It honours the Mountain legend, who won the Bathurst 1000 nine times. There will be further tributes to Brock before the start of the race tomorrow.

Fastest laps
Mark Skaife/Garth Tander, Holden Racing 2m 06.9764s
Jason Bright/Mark Winterbottom, Ford Performance 2m 7.0967s
Rick Kelly/Todd Kelly, HSV Dealer Team 2m 7.6780s

Qualifying lap record
Greg Murphy/Rick Kelly, Kmart Holden (2003) 2m 6.8594s