Ipswich Supercars: McLaughlin scorches to 11th season pole

The DJR Team Penske driver popped up on top of the times eight minutes into the 20-minute session with a 1m08.725s, replacing teammate Fabian Coulthard who had gone quickest seconds earlier.

McLaughlin then improved the benchmark to a 1m08.634s on his second run with six minutes to go, before laying down a record-smashing 1m08.420s right at the flag to equal team co-owner Dick Johnson’s record of five poles in a row.

“It was nice to go again on the last set of tyres and go faster,” said McLaughlin.

“I saw the number, and I thought ‘if someone beats that, good on them’.

“I felt like I got it pretty good, but [engineer] Ludo [Lacroix] always tells me there’s a tenth somewhere, and there was a tenth in the first sector today. He keeps me on my toes.”

Prodrive Racing’s Chaz Mostert wound up second, improving on his 1m08.745s from his second run with a 1m08.601s on his third. That demoted Jamie Whincup to third, the Triple Eight driver having jumped into second just seconds earlier with a 1m08.641s.

McLaughlin’s teammate Fabian Coulthard was fourth fastest, a little over three tenths off the pole-sitting Penske Ford, while Shane van Gisbergen was fifth.

Behind the Top 5 there was less than a tenth between sixth and 13th. Mark Winterbottom led the chasing pack, followed by Craig Lowndes, Nick Percat, Jason Bright, Cam Waters, Will Davison, and Todd and Rick Kelly.