Scott McLaughlin has backed up his incredible practice pace with a V8 Supercars pole position at Phillip Island.

McLaughlin set a lap record around the coastal circuit on Friday and, on Saturday, beat the field home in qualifying with a 1:30.4880 lap, which would have broken the old benchmark if he didn’t smash it 24 hours earlier.

Under grey skies but without rain, the 22-year-old steered his Volvo to the top of the timesheets to win his first pole of the year in impressive style.

“The car is amazing,” he said.

“We’ve had a tough start and a tough year this year – hopefully, we’ll bounce back.”

He’ll share the front row of the grid with fellow young gun Chaz Mostert, just two hundredths of a second behind McLaughlin.

It’s Mostert’s first visit to the island in 18 months after missing the event last year with a broken leg.

Former series winners Mark Winterbottom and Jamie Whincup will start from the second row.

Championship leader Will Davison will need tremendous help to stay on top after Saturday’s race, coming in 20th.

Saturday’s 120km race begins at 4:30pm.