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Lap by Lap: Qualifying 26 and 27

25 Aug 2013
Two 15-minute sessions run back-to-back this morning to determine the grid for this afternoon's 100km races at the Winton 360.
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Two 15-minute sessions run back-to-back this morning to determine the grid for this afternoon's 100km races at the Winton 360. 

Yesterday, the Norton Hornets trumped the field with James Moffat leading Michael Caruso home, though Red Bull Racing Australia's Jamie Whincup qualified on ARMOR ALL Pole Position for Race 25, breaking his own record for scoring the most poles in one V8 Supercars season. 

It is not wet at Winton Raceway. 

The TV is reporting a massive tailshaft vibration for Whincup. 10 minutes to go in the session and he is fourth, behind Mark Winterbottom, Will Davison and Holdsworth. 

Two HRT cars go to the top, ahead of two FPRs. And now McLaughlin dials the fastest time with a 1min22.5283. He will be looking to improve on a dismal qualifying yesterday, when he started 23rd. 

Winterbottom does it again, to be trumped by Courtney by just 0.1473sec!

Top five with seven and a half mins to go is Courtney, Winterbottom, McLaughlin, Todd Kelly, Alex Davison.  

Many cars have pitted at the seven minute mark. Whincup has been pushed down into 16, one spot above his teammate Lowndes. 

They're heading out again in the final five minutes. Meanwhile, Premat shot into the top four.

Two and a half minutes to go this session and Courtney and Winterbottom are still top two.

Coulthard jumps to second, 0.0952sec behind Courtney. 

Whincup now up to seventh and yesterday's winner Moffat in 14th. 

Just over a minute to go and D'Alberto to the top, to quickly be trumped by Bright, who finished third yesterday. 

Winterbottom to third and Will Davison to fifth. 18 secs to go! 

The chequered flag is out, a number of drivers still on laps – D'Alberto is the only one of the top 16 in pit lane. Whincup in pit lane, despite being in p16. 

Jason Bright on pole for the first of today's races and D'Alberto on the second row. Winterbottom, Courtney, Reynolds, van Gisbergen, Will Davison, Coulthard, Mostert, McLaughlin. 

Tander 13, Lowndes 17, Whincup 18.

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D'Alberto – "Rapt to get that lap together ... trying to put our best foot forward and keep trucking along. It's our best qualifying position so we'll be going as hard as we can."  

The second qualifying session is underway.

Courtney sets a quick time early, three and a half mins in, with a 1min22.3484. 

McLaughlin to the top, 0.0976sec ahead of Courtney. Blanchard, Todd Kelly and Mostert make up top five with just under 10 minutes to go. 

Seven minutes to go, six drivers out on track – Reynolds, Bright, van Gisbergen, Premat, Slade. 

Bright is in fourth at the moment, with D'Alberto still to set a time. 

Five minutes to go – McLaughlin and Courtney still at the top. 

New shock absorbers and spring rates for Lowndes' car for the remainder of the session. He's in 20th.

D'Alberto into second again for this session. 

McLaughlin leads three Walkinshaw cars of D'Alberto, Tander and Courtney. Reynolds and Bright follow. Coulthard and Lowndes have both popped into top 10. 

Courtney with a 1min22.2221. Mostert into second, for a second, and topped by Bright. Reynolds also on a flyer.

Chequered flag out with Courtney out ahead. He goes one better on his last lap for a 1min22.1328. 

Courtney for ARMOR ALL Pole Position for Race 27, followed by Bright, Mostert, McLaughlin, D'Alberto, Will Davison, Reynolds, Tander, Moffat, van Gisbergen. 

Fabian Coulthard 11th, Lowndes 13, Whincup 17, Winterbottom 19, Slade the best of the Mercs in 24. 

Click here for full results for the first session of the day, and here for results from the second session.

"Can't wait to turn it into a race win!" Courtney tells Seven.

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