Volvo on pole

Last year's Sunday winner Scott McLaughlin will start from ARMOR ALL Pole Position in this afternoon's 200km race at Sydney Motorsport Park.

McLaughlin is looking to go back-to-back at the Sydney circuit, where he earned his first 200km race victory in a successful season last year.

It's been a challenging season for the 22-year old Kiwi -who was aiming for the Championship in 2015 - but his Volvo was on song in the 20-minute qualifying session, holding off Prodrive's David Reynolds by 0.0165sec with his 1min30.1669.

In-car footage showed a burst of emotion from the young gun in the car, pumping his fists as he slowed into the pit lane to accept his ARMOR ALL cheque.

"That's so cool, I didn't expect that today," McLaughlin said.

"The boys gave me a great car, we were confident. It's so cool - wet or dry, I'm looking forward to it."

Conditions were tricky for the drivers, drying after some early rain.

Nick Percat's Commodore was seen stopped on the grass at the end of the session, with early reports it had a loose front wheel.

After earning two poles and a race win yesterday, Chaz Mostert was third, next to wet weather specialist Shane van Gisbergen on the second row.

Scotty Pye features fifth, with Lee Holdsworth alongside and again the best performing of the Walkinshaw Racing stable.

Some of the usual front-runners were further back than expected with Championship leader Mark Winterbottom was back in 12th, and Craig Lowndes a surprising 19th, after his teammate Jamie Whincup was the top performer in the Red Bull garage yesterday.

Click here for full session results.

The 200km V8 Supercars race kicks off at 2pm AEST this afternoon.