Mark Winterbottom has continued his Tasmanian V8 Supercars assault by taking pole at Symmons Plains.

The reigning series champion steered his Commodore around the regional circuit in 51.153 seconds, edged Craig Lowndes to top spot by less than two hundredths of a second.

Winterbottom cashed in on solid practice sessions to take a first pole position of 2016 and give himself the best chance of a first win this season.

The result is the first pole position at the Tasmanian circuit by a non-Red Bull Holden in three years, who have dominated the track.

Shane Van Gisbergen took his Red Bull to third, but all-time track wins leader Jamie Whincup missed out on setting a second fast lap and will start on the fourth row of the grid as a result.

Less than three-quarters of a season separates the entire field.

Rick Kelly is the top Nissan in sixth, with speedy Volvo man Scott McLaughlin managing just eighth.

Saturday’s 120km race begins at 4:45pm.