Photo: DJR Team Penske

Fabian Coulthard and Jamie Whincup on top in Melbourne qualifying

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Fabian Coulthard came close to claiming all four qualifying sessions of the non-championship Supercars round in Melbourne with the Australian GP this weekend.

The DJR Team Penske driver was fastest in the first three sessions, with Triple Eight Race Engineering driver Jamie Whincup beating him to pole by a mere two hundredths of a second in the fourth and final session.

Whincup will start fourth in the first race, third in the second and second in the third race.

Coulthard’s team-mate Scott McLaughlin was second fastest in the first two sessions, third in the third session but will start last for the final race due to exceeding track limits in the final session.

Tim Slade made it into the top three twice, claiming third on the grid for race one and four.

Championship leader Shane van Gisbergen was not able to challenge for the very top positions and will start seventh for the first two races, 25th for the third race after a trip through the gravel trap and sixth for the final race.