Jamie Whincup has denied Ford a first V8 Supercars pole position in a year, edging Mark Winterbottom in Saturday’s qualifying on Phillip Island.

Championship leader Whincup surged to deny Winterbottom by 0.13 of a second, keeping alive Ford’s unwanted streak.

Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin fastest in qualifying for race 33 of the season, while Whincup will start on pole in race 34.

The Red Bull ace is expected to claim a provisional championship this weekend on Phillip Island, with a 402-point lead over the rest of the field.

He needs to extend his lead to 450 points by the end of the day to ensure of a fourth-straight championship.

If Winterbottom’s fourth and second-placed qualifying efforts are matched in the afternoon’s races, the title will be alive.

A startling crash in the out-lap between Fabian Coulthard and Shane van Gisbergen provided a shocking start to qualifying.

Van Gisbergen, third in the championship, appeared to miss Coulthard’s weaving, hitting the fellow Holden as he attempted to overtake.

“We were on different plans,” van Gisbergen said.

“I saw him pull to the right and I thought he was letting me go.”

Coulthard’s team boss Brad Jones said he was not happy the car was damaged.

“We were in the top five yesterday and now we’re going to be last,” Jones said.

Coulthard said he “was minding my own business and warming my tyres and, the next minute I know, Shane’s there.”

Van Gisbergen appeared to apologise to his fellow New Zealander.

The incident overshadowed the pole position of another Kiwi, McLaughlin.

McLaughlin and Whincup came into the weekend tied eighth for most pole positions this season, with McLaughlin taking a lead after the first 10-minute qualifying session.

The 21-year-old Volvo driver looked set to take the second pole but a lock-up around turn four on his flying lap handed the position to Whincup.

“We can’t win the championship but we can definitely win (the poles competition),” McLaughlin said.

The predicted wet weather hadn’t arrived by qualifying – and might not come until Saturday night (AEDT).

The latest forecast suggests storms might lash the island during the evening, not the afternoon as previously advised, sparing drivers wet and wild races.

Saturday’s two 100-kilometre races begin at 2:30pm (AEDT) and 4:35pm.