Photo: PSP Images

Jamie Whincup just beats Scott McLaughlin to Bathurst pole

Multiple champion Jamie Whincup managed to maintain his provisional pole position from yesterday in today’s top ten shootout, beating Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin by a mere 0.0652 seconds.

Prodrive Racing Australia star Chaz Mostert gained one position from yesterday’s qualifying session to claim third on the grid ahead of DJR Team Penske driver Fabian Coulthard in fourth.

Tim Slade dropped two positions from yesterday and will start fifth ahead of Nissan Motorsport driver Michael Caruso, who climbed no less than four positions to claim sixth on the grid.

Shane van Gisbergen will start seventh for Triple Eight Race Engineering ahead of Garth Tander and Scott Pye.

Reigning champion Mark Winterbottom made two mistakes on his lap, touching the wall first and then ran wide at the chase to record a lap time close to three seconds from the pole time.

The 2016 Bathurst 1000 race starts at 11:10 local time tomorrow.