Will Davison swept to a hat-trick of pole positions for V8 Supercars' Yas Marina triple-header with a scintillating late rally in qualifying.
A single session was used to determine the grid for all three races for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix supporting event, with each driver's second and third fastest times being used to set the second and third race grids. On all three counts, Davison was top. It wasn't until the final minutes, however, that the Ford Performance Racing driver made his charge, with the initial running instead being set by championship leader Jamie Whincup.
The Triple 8 Holden man had carried on his practice form to top the times early on, before pulling 0.7 second clear of the field with six minutes to run. Davison was one of several who had pitted for fresh rubber at the time however, and once out his response was immediate. His first lap carried him to within 0.04sec of Whincup, before his second flyer – a 2m11.766s – earned him pole.
Davison's second and third fastest laps meanwhile also proved good enough for pole, earning him a qualifying clean sweep. Whincup hung on to second, just over 0.1sec down the road. He will start from the same place in both the second and third contests.
Just 0.3sec further back, Shane van Gisbergen (Stone Brothers Ford) hung on to third after a late battle with stablemates Tim Slade and Lee Holdsworth.
Holdsworth, the slowest of the trio in fifth, will therefore share the third row of the opening race with the HRT Holden of Garth Tander.