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Qualifying report

Townsville Supercars: Whincup storms to Saturday pole

Jamie Whincup secured his first pole position of the 2016 season after topping qualifying for the first leg of the Townsville 400.

Jamie Whincup, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden

Jamie Whincup, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden

Dirk Klynsmith

Jamie Whincup, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden
Shane van Gisbergen, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden
Shane van Gisbergen, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden
James Courtney, Holden Racing Team
Chaz Mostert, Rod Nash Racing Ford
Mark Winterbottom, Prodrive Racing Australia Ford

The Triple Eight driver actually set his benchmark time – a 1m12.144s – on his second of three runs, the lap holding up through the final flurry at the end of the session to give Whincup his first pole position since Homebush late last year.

“It was a good lap,” said Whincup. “The track is slowly deteriorating, but soft tyres are always fun for qualifying. It’s great to be starting from the right position, but it’s going to be a long day.”

Whincup’s team-mate Shane van Gisbergen did find some improvement on his third and final run, only from a 1m12.374s to a 1m12.324s. That left him still 0.17s shy of the #88, although it was good enough to secure an all-Red Bull Racing Australia front row for today’s first race.

James Courtney was the surprise of the session, qualifying third for the struggling Holden Racing Team.

“It’s like a pole position compared to where we’ve been,” said Courtney. “It’s great to be able to see the lights and not have to look at a repeater set, so it’s good times here.”

Chaz Mostert was the big improver from the third run at the end of the session, making up two tenths and seven positions to qualify fourth. Prodrive Racing team-mate Mark Winterbottom also improved on the final run, jumping Will Davison and Tim Slade to go fifth quickest.

Davison and Slade finished up sixth and seventh respectively, with Michael Caruso the best Nissan in eighth.

James Moffat led the way for Volvo in P9, while his team-mate Scott McLaughlin has a surprisingly tough session, finishing way down the order in 18th.

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