Motorsport: Tander takes pole in Melbourne

Garth Tander's form has carried him to pole position. Photo / Getty Images

Holden's Garth Tander has continued his recent hot form to snare pole position for tonight's V8 Supercar sprint race at the Melbourne grand prix.

Tander, coming off the back of two race wins in Adelaide earlier this month, clocked a one minute, 57.167 second lap in the top 10 shootout at the Albert Park street circuit.

That time means he'll start in front in the 13-lap non-championship race, the first of three to be held at the grand prix this weekend.

Ford's James Courtney will start the race alongside Tander in second spot after the Jim Beam Racing driver clocked a 1:57.323.

The second row of the grid will be a family affair with brothers Todd and Rick Kelly qualifying third and fourth fastest respectively.

Reigning driver's champion Jamie Whincup, who had posted the fastest time in Thursday's qualifying session, could only manage to post a 1:57.944 and will start the race back in seventh spot alongside Ford's Paul Dumbrell.

- AAP