Supercars rookie takes Bathurst 1000 provisional pole

<p>Supercars rookie Zach Bates has upset the top order at the Bathurst 1000 after laying down a record lap around Mount Panorama to take provisional pole.</p> <p>All eyes were on whether heavyweight Brodie Kostecki would continue his qualifying dominance en route to a historic fourth consecutive pole, but it was Matt Stone Racing youngster Bates who took out Friday's session.</p> <p>The 22-year-old set an unbeatable lap time of two minutes and 3.9376 seconds in just his second attempt at claiming the holy grail of Australian motorsport.</p> <p>He is the fastest driver in the Gen3 era and easily beat Kostecki's Bathurst 1000 qualifying record of 2:04.0307 seconds.</p> <p>"It's incredible to get provisional pole," Bates said.</p> <p>"Never thought during the weekend that it was going to be possible.</p> <p>"Just trying my best, and yeah, here we are."</p> <p>Bates' surprise success comes after his mother Alison Drower died from cancer weeks before his…