Brodie Kostecki has surged into favouritism for the Bathurst 1000 with rivals unsure the Supercars championship leader can be beaten.
The Erebus star has provisional pole for Saturday's top-10 shootout after dominating an action-packed qualifying session that included two red flags.
Kostecki has recorded six wins this season to be in reach of a maiden championship with two rounds to follow after Sunday's great race at Mt Panorama.
The 25-year-old finished third in 2021 and fourth last year, but Kostecki and co-driver David Russell now appear primed to win at Bathurst for the first time.
Ford rival Anton De Pasquale, who will get the third-last crack in Saturday's top-10 shootout, thought Kostecki was clearly the one to beat.
"Maybe, I don't know," the Shell V-Power ace responded when asked if Kostecki could be caught.
"Unless a miracle happens to our thing (car) overnight, not by us, but anything can happen come Sunday, it's a long race.
"The cars have got to survive first and and get through it, no damage and everything. But we'll be trying our best."
Ford teams have bemoaned Supercars' decision not to allow technical changes to Mustangs ahead of the Bathurst 1000.
Blue oval bosses have claimed they are at a "continued disadvantage" compared to Camaro drivers after proposed changes to their cars were rejected.
"There's been a pretty consistent big gap to the fastest of some of the other brands," De Pasquale said.
"The gap's been pretty big, pretty consistent.
"Obviously they're doing an amazing job, but I think we maximised our package (in qualifying).
"Everyone knows what the situation is, but we can't change it so we just get on with it. We'll run our race and hopefully we end up with a trophy."
