V8 Supercars series leader Jamie Whincup has bounced back to form to claim pole position for the Ipswich round’s opening sprint race at Queensland Raceway on Saturday.
Keen to make amends after a disappointing run reduced his series lead, Whincup clocked one minute, 09.27 seconds ahead of fellow Holden drivers Scott McLaughlin (1:09.30) and Fabian Coulthard (1:09.31).
It was Whincup’s ninth pole of the season but the first in three rounds for the four-time V8 champion.
Whincup suffered his worst round to date at the last start in Townsville, missing the podium altogether and failing to qualify in the top 10 for the first time this year in both events in north Queensland.
And his luck did not look like changing in Ipswich where he has gone win-less in the last eight races at Queensland Raceway.
However, Whincup appears to have reversed his fortunes.
He holds an 111 point overall series lead over Holden teammate Craig Lowndes who qualified sixth fastest.
“We dropped off a little bit. This means a lot after a drought,” defending champion Whincup said.
Leading Ford driver Will Davison – third on the overall standings – was 10th quickest while the last start winner in Townsville, Holden’s Garth Tander, was a disappointing 19th.
The opening sprint race will be held in two 60km legs and starts at 1540 AEST.
Meanwhile, former two-time MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has qualified seventh fastest for Saturday’s opening V8 Supercars second tier race in Ipswich.
Barely 24 hours after enjoying his best practice form to date on four wheels, Stoner picked up where he left off in the Dunlop Series on Saturday.
Stoner clocked 1:10.44 in his Holden, trailing pole sitter and Dunlop Series leader Dale Wood (1:10.05).
The opening 14-lap race begins at 1415 AEST.