McLaughlin rebounds with seventh straight pole

Scott McLaughlin had the perfect answer to critics of his Race 17 performance as he stormed to ARMOR ALL Pole for this afternoon’s 200km encounter.

Shrugging off a penalty that has slashed his championship lead, McLaughlin proved fastest on both tyre runs in the 20 minute qualifying session.

McLaughlin went to the top with a 1:28.34s on his first set before lowering the benchmark further to 1:28.22s with his second effort.

The result sees McLaughlin equal Jamie Whincup’s 2013 record of 13 poles in a single season.

CLICK HERE for the full Race 18 qualifying result.

“After yesterday I was pretty disappointed with myself and I just wanted to come out today and smash them,” said McLaughlin.

“I had a big focus. Once the penalty was laid down I just wanted to get on with things and knew what happened yesterday was done.

“The car is my happy place where no one can annoy me or anything. It’s the best place for me and best remedy.”

Prodrive's Chaz Mostert, who moved to fourth in points following this morning's penalties, will start off the outside of the front-row.

Jamie Whincup will start third after improving his time but not his position between runs, sharing row two with team-mate Shane van Gisbergen.

Race 17 winner Fabian Coulthard, Michael Caruso, Mark Winterbottom, Nick Percat, Tim Slade and Jason Bright completed the top 10.

Winterbottom’s seventh place came despite a mid-session hit with Garth Tander at Turn 2 – the Wilson Security Holden spinning as a result.

The session included an awkward moment for the Davison brothers, with Alex forced to take the grass on the run to Turn 2 as the Lightning McQueen entry weaved into his path.

Will Davison ended the session 16th while Alex was 26th and admitted to frustration.

“Even though it probably didn’t affect our result that much it’s still frustrating because we’re still trying as hard as we can,” said Alex.

“I thought he’d seen me, it looked like he’d stayed left and then he jinked right.

“But to be honest, if it wasn’t Lightning in the way there were two Triple Eight cars just ahead.”

Will Davison said he had not been informed by his Tekno crew that the Lucas Dumbrell Holden was approaching.

“It was our bad. I had no idea he was there until I saw a missile coming down the right hand side,” he said.

“I was pretty angry that it happened and felt pretty bad for him. There’s no excuse, it’s not good enough.”