Shane van Gisbergen has fired a warning shot to his Supercars rivals ahead of the opening race at the Gold Coast 500 with a blistering lap time to secure provisional pole.
The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver needs only 33 points to secure the drivers championship after a record 19 race wins this year.
Saturday's first qualifying session proved van Gisbergen's form hasn't wavered since his recent Bathurst 1000 win, smashing second-placed Chaz Mostert's lap time by point three of a second before the top 10 shootout.
Qualifying wasn't without drama after Jake Kostecki found the tyre wall on turn 13 within five minutes, prompting the first of two red flags.
When racing resumed SVG then held the early lead on his first hot lap from Will Davison and Andre Heimgartner, then Todd Hazelwood forced another red flag after losing control on the final corner.
In the closing stages, van Gisbergen roared through to best his own fastest time for a 1:10.404 and secure provisional pole and be the only driver to go fastest in each of the three sectors so far this weekend.
But even with pole secured, the Kiwi said he could improve ahead of the shootout.
"It means nothing, the shootout is still to come," van Gisbergen told Fox Sports.
"On my first lap we did a shootout run, on my second we had the tyres a bit up and I couldn't turn the tyre on so that's a bit of a worry.
"But then my second lap was quicker with tyres over pressure so maybe we learnt something there."
Chaz Mostert qualified second fastest ahead of Brodie Kostecki, Will Davison and James Courtney, with Courtney moving up 15 places in the final minute to reach the shootout.
Supercars qualifying result:
1. Shane van Gisbergen (Holden) 1:10.404
2. Chaz Mostert (Holden) 1:10.796
3. Brodie Kostecki (Holden) 1:10.867
4. Will Davison (Ford) 1:10.897
5. James Courtney (Ford) 1:10.920
6. David Reynolds (Ford) 1:10.923
7. Andre Heimgartner (Holden) 1:10.931
8. Thomas Randle (Ford) 1:10.932
9. Cam Waters (Ford) 1:10.939
10. Anton De Pasquale (Ford) 1:11.001
