JAMIE Whincup fired the first shot at this year’s Bathurst 1000 with the Red Bull record breaker blasting his way to a Mount Panorama qualifying win on Friday.

In an all out battle for a top 10 shoot out spot, Whincup clocked a 2.04.10 to edge out Dave Reynolds and Scott McLaughlin.

Whincup stormed his way to the fastest lap of the day to set himself up for a shot at Bathurst 1000 glory.

“That was intense,’’ Whincup said.

“I was just hanging on the edge. We went out late and got the most out of it. I couldn’t be happier.’’

The session was red flagged with ten minutes remaining when Jack Le Broq became Mount Panorama’s first victim of the year.

In a smash that stopped Cameron Waters from landing a top five time, Le Broq went into the wall at turn one to stop qualifying for a clean up.

Whincup was leading the fight when the session resumed with the Red Bull star followed by James Courtney and Scott McLaughlin.

Fan favourite Criag Lowndes struck late to book himself a spot in the top ten shoot out with a time of 2.04.57.