SVG fastest in Sunday Sydney qualifying

New Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen continued his charge in Race 29 qualifying at the Coates Hire Sydney 500.

The Red Bull ace topped the morning’s 20 minute qualifying session ahead of the Top 10 Shootout that will set the starting order for the afternoon’s 250km race.

Jamie Whincup had led the way ahead of the final green tyre runs with 1:27.09s, but elected against doing another run in order to save a set for the afternoon.

Van Gisbergen went 0.14s quicker than his team-mate while David Reynolds managed to split the Red Bulls by also improving in the dying stages.

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The Shootout will decide the Armor All Pole Champion Award for the season, which currently sits with seven poles for Van Gisbergen and six for Whincup.

“We just tried a different strategy to save a set of tyres for the race,” explained Whincup.

“Third last out for the Shootout shouldn’t be too much difference (to last out). It should all be pretty even.”

James Courtney, Scott McLaughlin, Michael Caruso, Tim Slade, Garth Tander, Nick Percat and Todd Kelly complete the Shootout field.

Mark Winterbottom was the top Ford down in 13th, while Craig Lowndes was another place further back in what is a blow to his hopes of wrestling third in points back from Scott McLaughlin.

The Top 10 Shootout will get underway at 1305 local time.

Result: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship Coates Hire Sydney 500 Race 29 Qualifying

1	Red Bull Racing Australia	Shane Van Gisbergen	Holden Commodore VF	1:26.95
2	Erebus Motorsport Penrite	David Reynolds	Holden Commodore VF	1:26.98	00.0310
3	Red Bull Racing Australia	Jamie Whincup	Holden Commodore VF	1:27.09	00.1424
4	Holden Racing Team	James Courtney	Holden Commodore VF	1:27.18	00.2310
5	Wilson Security Racing GRM	Scott McLaughlin	Volvo S60	1:27.21	00.2633
6	Nissan Motorsport	Michael Caruso	Nissan Altima	1:27.23	00.2842
7	Freightliner Racing	Tim Slade	Holden Commodore VF	1:27.25	00.3025
8	Holden Racing Team	Garth Tander	Holden Commodore VF	1:27.25	00.3038
9	Repair Management Aust Racing	Nick Percat	Holden Commodore VF	1:27.31	00.3583
10	carsales Racing	Todd Kelly	Nissan Altima	1:27.34	00.3899
11	Team Darrell Lea STIX	Will Davison	Holden Commodore VF	1:27.34	00.3920
12	Sengled Motorsport	Rick Kelly	Nissan Altima	1:27.41	00.4667
13	The Bottle-O Racing Team	Mark Winterbottom	Ford Falcon FG/X	1:27.41	00.4676
14	TeamVortex	Craig Lowndes	Holden Commodore VF	1:27.55	00.6076
15	Monster Energy Racing	Cameron Waters	Ford Falcon FG/X	1:27.57	00.6239
16	Team BOC	Jason Bright	Holden Commodore VF	1:27.58	00.6342
17	Wilson Security Racing GRM	James Moffat	Volvo S60	1:27.64	00.6916
18	DJR Team Penske	Fabian Coulthard	Ford Falcon FG/X	1:27.65	00.6992
19	Supercheap Auto Racing	Chaz Mostert	Ford Falcon FG/X	1:27.67	00.7199
20	DJR Team Penske	Scott Pye	Ford Falcon FG/X	1:27.89	00.9448
21	Team Cooldrive	Tim Blanchard	Holden Commodore VF	1:27.96	01.0093
22	Preston Hire Racing	Lee Holdsworth	Holden Commodore VF	1:28.07	01.1250
23	GB Galvanizing Racing	Dale Wood	Nissan Altima	1:28.16	01.2122
24	Erebus Motorsport	Shae Davies	Holden Commodore VF	1:28.26	01.3138
25	Plus Fitness Racing	Andre Heimgartner	Holden Commodore VF	1:28.32	01.3719
26	Super Black Racing	Chris Pither	Ford Falcon FG/X	1:28.36	01.4115