Mark Winterbottom scored his first Armor All Pole Award of the season by edging out Craig Lowndes in a tense qualifying session at Symmons Plains.

Each driver had two sets of green tyres to use in the 15 minutes, ensuring the session was split into two distinct halves.

Lowndes was fastest after the first run with a 51.17s ahead of Shane van Gisbergen, Will Davison and Winterbottom.

Lowndes appeared set to go faster still on his second set before a lock-up and off at Turn 6 left him vulnerable to those behind.

Winterbottom, who had an off of his own at Turn 2, recovered to shoot to the top with a 51.15s just seconds before the chequered flag.

“We’ve had a great car all weekend, but I lost a little bit of rear grip,” admitted the reigning champion.

“(It was crazy with) all those cars towing and I was off the track… but I’ve got $1,000 so I don’t care.

“It was an awesome session and I’m so proud of the team. I can’t wait for the race.”

Lowndes and Van Gisbergen ended up second and third respectively despite both failing to improve on their second runs.

“It was more of a lock-up than I expected,” said Lowndes of his off.

“I caught the front-left going into Turn 6 and to release it I had to run wide.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get that run in because I think we had a car that was good enough for pole.”

Lee Holdsworth was the biggest late improver, jumping from 19th to fourth.

Team 18 had elected to scrub its second set of softs early in the session in what appeared an inspired move.

“I’m over the moon, this is genuine pace,” smiled Holdsworth.

“We’re moving forward every session. It’s unbelievable because we didn’t expect to make such a huge jump from where we were at the grand prix.”

Davison, Rick Kelly, Jamie Whincup and Scott McLaughlin each relied on the times from their first set of tyres to fill fifth through eighth.

Whincup suffered a lock-up early in his first run, while an attempt to drop back into the pack and benefit from a tow off of Michael Caruso’s Nissan failed to pay dividends in the dying stages.

Jason Bright secured ninth despite being one of several forced to park at Turn 4 late in the going to avoid a spinning Nick Percat.

Ford runners Fabian Coulthard, Chaz Mostert, Cameron Waters and Scott Pye filled 10th through 13th, with Waters abandoning his second run after a large lock-up.

It was a tough session for the Holden Racing Team as its drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney struggled to 14th and 17th respectively.

The 120km Race 4 of the championship will get underway from 1645 local time.

Result: V8 Supercars Tyrepower Tasmania Super Sprint Race 4 Qualifying