HE was the fastest man in the Bathurst 12 Hour top 10 shootout on Saturday, but Jake Dennis neither earned position one or the Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy.
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The R-Motorsport driver went into the shootout knowing a penalty for speeding in Pit Lane during qualifying would see him drop two spots.
However, he also knew regulations still allowed him to claim the trophy and he wanted it.
He produced a 2:02.4946 behind the wheel of the #62 Aston Martin Vantage to initially be awarded the trophy, but officials later found a technical breach.
While unintentional, it related to the mandated rev limit threshold of the Vantage’s V12 engine and the vehicle’s manufacturer-supplied homologation documents.
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It meant it was excluded from the shootout and started Sunday’s race from 12th on the grid.
It also meant the trophy and pole position on Sunday morning went to the GruppeM #999 Mercedes.
With the exclusion of Dennis’ lap time, Raffaele Marciello’s 2:02.9348 was elevated to the top of the time sheet.
It was a big disappointment to Dennis, who had been delighted with his shootout effort.
“My aim was to either put it on P1 or crash, there was nothing left,” Dennis said before the technical breach was discovered.
“I was filled with goosebumps, happiness and excitement when I found out I’d done it.
“The lap was pretty spot on to be honest.
“I was so happy not just for myself but the whole team; first time here at Bathurst for us guys and we’ve come away with a pole position.”
