Jamie Whincup may have scored a long awaited maiden pole position at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, but it will be co-driver Paul Dumbrell that takes up the coveted grid spot on Sunday morning.

Whincup, the four-time V8 Supercars Champion and current points leader, avenged the disappointment of being pipped in last year’s Bathurst Shootout by defeating Mark Winterbottom in the Saturday evening session.

The last man out in the Top 10 run-off, Whincup dug out the second quickest lap of the weekend, a 2:07.88s effort, to deny Winterbottom pole by 0.2s.

The only other 2:07 seen this week had come from Whincup in Friday morning’s Practice 5.

“The car was fantastic, I can’t fault it at all, and I got a good lap out of it,” he said.

“I was pretty desperate. I didn’t want to die not being on pole at The Great Race, so I’m pretty keen to have got that stat.”

Whincup confirmed that Dumbrell will start the car, as was the case last year, where the pair took victory.

“I think it’s good for Paul to get underway,” explained Whincup.

“I find it a little challenging jumping into the race after it has started and I don’t want to put that pressure on Paul at all.

“Me being the regular driver and knowing the car well, I can jump in for the second stint.

“That’s the plan at this stage for Paul to start and for me to jump in when he gets tired after maybe a stint or two.

“Where we’re really lucky is that Paul’s times are as quick as mine, so we don’t need to concentrate on Paul doing the minimal amount of laps,” he continued.

“He’ll probably do half the race if not more tomorrow, so we’re not restricted like most combos were at Sandown trying to get their co-drivers out of the way as quick as possible.”

Typically, Whincup downplayed his ominous pre-race form as he shoots for a fifth Bathurst victory.

“I think we’re as good a chance as any,” he smiled.