Holden’s Jamie Whincup has grabbed his 11th pole position of the season after qualifying fastest for the opening race of this weekend’s V8 Supercars round at Winton on Saturday.

The series leader jumped to the top of the timesheets in 1m 22.2129sec with less than two minutes to go in the session, outpacing Nissan’s Michael Caruso who was on track to claim his maiden pole and his team’s first in 22 years.

The result sees Whincup break his own record for most pole positions in a V8 Supercars Championship season.

Caruso cost himself a spot in the history books when he left the circuit on the final turn of his last lap, having just posted quicker sector times than Whincup.

His 1:22.2294 will see him start second on the grid for Saturday’s opening 60/60 super sprint race at 3.35pm (AEST).

His Nissan teammate James Moffat, who was fastest in practice two and three, qualified third with a 1:22.2573.

Despite a dry track and clear conditions, heavy rain on Friday and earlier in the week ensured a wet and muddy outfield.

Mercedes driver Tim Slade was en route to setting the fastest lap before bogging himself in the muddy outfield, triggering the session’s only red-flag and sending himself to the back of the field.

Slade showed some pace earlier in the morning, finishing second quickest in the final practice session before qualifying.