SVG scores Pukekohe pole double

Title rivals Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup will share the front-row for both of this afternoon’s 100km sprint races at Pukekohe.

Van Gisbergen edged his Red Bull team-mate by less than 0.05s in the two 10 minute qualifying sessions that set the grid for the respective races.

“It has been awesome and the car has been fantastic all week,” smiled Van Gisbergen.

“We are in a good spot for this afternoon and I’m looking forward to the races.

“The job is not done and hopefully I can give the crowd something to cheer for this afternoon.”

Race 24 Qualifying

Van Gisbergen wasted no time in setting what proved to be the Armor All Pole Award winning lap in the opening session.

A 1:02.51s left the Kiwi 0.24s clear of Scott McLaughlin after the first runs and proved unbeatable for the duration.

Whincup came closest to knocking off Van Gisbergen, leaping from ninth after the first run to second, just 0.006s from pole.

McLaughlin improved his time on his second set of tyres to secure third ahead of Mark Winterbottom, Garth Tander and James Courtney, who were all within a tenth of Van Gisbergen.

Will Davison was third after the first tyre run but fell to 12th, while Fabian Coulthard dropped from fifth to 14th.

Tim Slade ran wide at the exit of the final corner as the chequered flag came out, making side-on contact with the outside concrete wall.

“I tried to get the car turned with the throttle and it picked up some understeer and there was no recovery from there,” he explained.

Ending the session 19th, the damage proved too much to see the Freightliner Holden return for the second session.

James Moffat also struck trouble during qualifying for Race 24, ending up 25th after running off at Turn 4.

Race 25 Qualifying

Van Gisbergen upped the ante again in the second session, setting an early benchmark of 1:02.22s that proved 0.048s quicker than Whincup’s first effort.

The six-time champion went faster to the first sector on the first lap of his second run before running off the road at the chicane.

Van Gisbergen fell foul of the same corner a lap later, spinning at the exit of the right-hander in front of Whincup, ensuring neither improved.

Chaz Mostert and Coulthard scored second row starts in their Fords ahead of Davison and Winterbottom.

The reigning champion had his own off at the chicane on his first run, ensuring he entered the final minutes at the bottom of the order.

Michael Caruso was third after the first runs but fell to seventh ahead of McLaughlin, Scott Pye and David Reynolds.

Tander and Courtney meanwhile failed to live up to their early pace, ending up 15th and 16th respectively.

Craig Lowndes struggled for speed in both sessions and is set to start 21st and 13th in the respective races.

Result: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship ITM Auckland Super Sprint Race 24 Qualifying

Result: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship ITM Auckland Super Sprint Race 25 Qualifying