"We just needed to generally get a bit better," said van Gisbergen. "There'd been a couple of weird rounds with Tassie and Phillip Island. It was good to have a couple of decent results and hopefully start getting back some points."
Van Gisbergen (1023) is fourth in the drivers' standings, 37 points behind leader Fabian Coulthard (1060).
The Kiwi speedster has had to contend with the rise of DJR Team Penske's Fords, with Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin (1032) both ahead of him ahead of the sixth round.
Whincup (1056) is within four points of the lead despite not winning a race this year.
But last year's champion insists his focus is bigger than Penske.
"The competition is hot this year," van Gisbergen said.
"There's five or six cars that are really quick consistently.
"Every weekend seems to have a smokey or two that's quick as well."
While McLaughlin and Coulthard are shooting for an unprecedented seventh consecutive pole position, van Gisbergen is confident he has the qualifying speed to push for it.
"There's been a few other teams that are quick at different times," he said. "For us it's just working on our own stuff and getting our mistakes to a minimum."
The weekend marks 20 years of the Top End event in the Northern Territory, with Jason Bright, Garth Tander and Craig Lowndes the drivers remaining in the championship from the inaugural meeting at Hidden Valley Raceway.
Lowndes will be looking to add to his seven wins in Darwin, second to Mark Skaife, while van Gisbergen will be looking to extend his streak of 28 consecutive top 10 shootout finishes.
The round includes a 42-lap race today and 70 laps tomorrow.
- AAP
