Pither takes Super2 pole pending investigation

Dunlop Super2 Series leader Chris Pither has claimed ARMOR ALL Pole Position for the opening race in Newcastle, but is the subject of a post-session investigation.

Pither, who topped the timesheets in Friday practice, led Holden driver Brodie Kostecki by 0.1731 seconds in a 15-minute session to set the grid for the second last race of the season.

His pole position lap is set to be scrutinised by stewards, though, for passing another car under yellow flags at Turn 2, where Adam Marjoram was down the escape road.

The Garry Rogers Motorsport driver holds a 32-point lead over Paul Dumbrell and turned a 1:11.8798s lap with four minutes remaining.

Dumbrell qualified fourth, while MW Motorsport pair Garry Jacobson and Alex Rullo are also title chances but had a coming together during the session.

Rullo hit the rear of Jacobson's Altima at Turn 11, took no further part in the session and will start last while Jacobson managed to grab seventh.

Kostecki was Pither's closest challenger, having spent time at the top of the order, and will start alongside the GRM Holden in his Acroplate Racing Commodore.

Will Brown, who also spent time in first place, will start from third despite nudging the tyres at Turn 8.

He'll share the second row with Eggleston team-mate Dumbrell, from Brad Jones Racing's Macauley Jones and Shae Davies, who was the top driver not in a Holden, aboard the Paul Morris Motorsport Falcon.

Jacobson, Kurt Kostecki (Holden), Mason Barbera (Holden) and Dean Fiore in the third MWM Altima rounded out the top 10, ahead of rookies Zane Goddard and Thomas Randle.

Adam Marjoram qualified 17th but drops to 22nd due to a grid penalty for failing to stop for a red light at pit exit during practice.

Saturday's 20-lap race, the 15th of 16 in the 2018 Dunlop Super2 Series, starts at 2:30pm local time.