Veteran V8 Supercars driver Jason Bright has notched his first pole position in four years after setting the quickest time for Sunday’s first race at Symmons Plains.

Brad Jones Racing locked out the first race front row, with Bright’s teammate and winner of Saturday’s race Fabian Coulthard to start alongside him after finishing second fastest in qualifying.

Bright’s time of 51.19 seconds was just a tenth of a second outside the practice record set last year by Craig Lowndes.

It was his first pole since Phillip Island in 2008.

“The car has been quick all year and this is great,” Bright said.

“The last couple of years have been tough but the boys have worked hard all season.

“They’ve done a fantastic job even though we haven’t had a test day since (the V8 official day at) Eastern Creek.”

Series leader Jamie Whincup, who was second on Saturday, was third quickest for the first of Sunday’s two races.

Under the new Supercars format there are separate qualifying sessions for each of the day’s two 42-lap races.

Whincup’s Red Bull teammate Craig Lowndes finished fifth, one spot ahead of rising star Scott McLaughlin.

McLaughlin, a 19-year-old New Zealander, is set to become the star of the series in coming years.

Winner of the development series last year, the teenager has not finished out of the top 10 in either qualifying or races in his debut season this year.

Qualifying for the second of the 100-lap races was led by the Ford of Mark Winterbottom with Coulthard again on the front row after running second quickest.