Whincup claims Gold Coast pole

Jamie Whincup has claimed pole position for Sunday’s final Gold Coast 600 race.

The six-time Supercars series champion clocked one minute, 10:88 seconds, just 0.08 of a second ahead of Holden teammate Shane van Gisbergen.

Holden’s David Reynolds was third fastest.

Whincup is hoping to reel in van Gisbergen’s 160 point lead over him in the drivers’ championship with victory in Sunday’s final 300km race.

Whincup showed his intentions with a scorching flying lap in the top 10 shootout which decides the front of the grid, even losing a sideview mirror on the treacherous street circuit.

“Mirrors are baggage at this place,” Whincup said.

Van Gisbergen is out to back up Saturday’s 300km opening race win.

Reynolds was the shootout surprise packet, finishing just 0.11 of a second behind Whincup.

“The top 10 shootout is all about the right amount of risk and coffee,” Reynolds said.

In contrast, Holden veteran Garth Tander’s luck didn’t change on Sunday.

Tander did not register a lap time due to curb hopping and finished last in the 10-strong shootout field.

Hee will start from 20th on the grid due to a 10 spot penalty hanging over from Saturday’s spectacular incident with Ford’s Fabian Coulthard.

Tander was penalised for his role in a 265kph crash that all but wrote off Coulthard’s Falcon while tangling for fifth spot in Saturday’s opening 300km race.

Remarkably Coulthard’s DJR Team Penske outfit worked throughout the night to have his Ford ready for qualifying on Sunday morning.

Coulthard was 18th fastest for Sunday’s race.

“If you sat me down yesterday afternoon and said we would be at qualifying I would have thought you were joking,” said Coulthard.

Sunday’s race will decide the Supercars Enduro Cup.

Van Gisbergen leads the endurance standings, 87 points ahead of Holden’s Will Davison.

Sunday’s race starts at 1525 AEDT.

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