Ford’s Mark Winterbottom will have the chance to make up ground in the race for the V8 Supercars championship after a strong Sunday qualifying session at Phillip Island.

Winterbottom leads the title chasers in grid position for both of the day’s races, qualifying in third spot for race two and in pole position for race three – his second pole of the meeting.

Fabian Coulthard took pole for race two and will share the front row of the grid with Holden team-mate Jason Bright.

Garth Tander won race one on Saturday ahead of Coulthard and Alex Davison.

In better conditions than greeted drivers on a tumultuous Saturday, drivers avoided the hectic battles that characterised Phillip Island’s first day.

The exception was championship leader Jamie Whincup who duelled with Craig Moffat for track position early.

That led to a race investigation, as yet unresolved.

Whincup, who leads Craig Lowndes by 14 points in the title race, qualified in fourth and fifth.

Lowndes will share the front row of the grid with Winterbottom in race three but will start eighth in race two.

Team BOC Holden driver Jason Bright had a sharp qualifying session and will start second in race two and third in race three.

Will Davison, who has already lost ground from fourth place in the title race after a miserable 17th position on Saturday, has it all to do after qualifying for both Sunday races in 10th.

The two races begin at 1:45pm and 4:30pm.