Scott McLaughlin took a surprise first Armor All Pole Award of the season in the Top 10 Shootout ahead of Race 17 at the Castrol Edge Townsville 400.
The Volvo driver was the seventh onto the circuit in the one-at-a-time session, stopping the clocks with 1:13.41s.
The time proved enough to withstand the best efforts of Prodrive Ford drivers David Reynolds, Chaz Mostert and Mark Winterbottom.
Mostert lost time with a wild slide across the exit of Turn 6, but still did enough to take the outside of the front-row.
Shane van Gisbergen gained three places from qualifying to end up third ahead of Reynolds and Winterbottom.
Fabian Coulthard, Andre Heimgartner, Todd Kelly, Lee Holdsworth and Will Davison complete the top 10 starting order.
“It's awesome,” beamed McLaughlin, who has endured a horror second year with Volvo after a 2014 season that netted 10 pole positions.
“The boys gave me a great car and we had a good strategy for that Shootout. The team has stuck by me and fixed all the issues I've been complaining about. I'm so happy.”
The 200km Race 17 will get underway at 1615 local time.
Result: V8 Supercars Top 10 Shootout, Townsville
1 |
Wilson Security Racing GRM |
Scott McLaughlin |
Volvo S60 |
01:13.41 |
|
2 |
Pepsi Max Crew |
Chaz Mostert |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:13.57 |
00:00.16 |
3 |
Team Darrell Lea STIX |
Shane Van Gisbergen |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:13.75 |
00:00.33 |
4 |
The Bottle-O Racing Team |
David Reynolds |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:13.84 |
00:00.43 |
5 |
Pepsi Max Crew |
Mark Winterbottom |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:13.86 |
00:00.45 |
6 |
Freightliner Racing |
Fabian Coulthard |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:13.87 |
00:00.45 |
7 |
Super Black Racing |
Andre Heimgartner |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:13.96 |
00:00.55 |
8 |
Nissan Motorsport |
Todd Kelly |
Nissan Altima |
01:14.07 |
00:00.66 |
9 |
Walkinshaw Racing |
Lee Holdsworth |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:14.12 |
00:00.71 |
10 |
Erebus Motorsport V8 |
Will Davison |
Mercedes E63 AMG |
01:14.40 |
00:00.99 |