Mostert takes both V8 poles at Winton

Mostert, who had never taken a V8 Supercars pole position before the beginning of the last round at Barbagallo Raceway, now has four poles to his name after comfortably heading both of the 10-minute qualifying sessions.

The first of the sessions was a real one-lap shootout, with poor track conditions and a red flag meaning drivers had just one genuine chance to get the job done. In the end, it was Mostert who did it better than anyone, storming to pole by 0.106s ahead of Nissan’s Michael Caruso.

Mostert’s Prodrive Racing Australia team-mates locked out the second row for today’s first race, while Todd Kelly and Fabian Coulthard were fifth and sixth fastest.

Scott McLaughlin, meanwhile, was the driver who caused to red flag in the first session after beaching his Volvo at turn three. That meant he couldn’t set a lap time, and will start today’s first race from 25th and last – the first time the Kiwi has not been the top Volvo in the field after a qualifying session.

Mostert left it late again the second time around, making use of the improved track conditions to go fastest with a 1m24.097s, with Winterbottom and Reynolds making it an all-Prodrive top three.

Rick Kelly capped off Nissan’s encouraging day with fourth, ahead of Perth winner Will Davison and Triple Eight’s Jamie Whincup.

McLaughlin had a better time of things in the second session, qualifying ninth.