Motorsport: Van Gisbergen seizes pole

Kiwi driver Shane Van Gisbergen has claimed pole position on the Gold Coast. Photo / Getty

Kiwi driver Shane van Gisbergen has claimed pole position for Saturday's 300km V8 Supercars race on the Gold Coast.

The Tekno Autosport driver clocked a one minute and 11.3242 seconds lap in the top 10 shootout for pole position to narrowly pip fellow New Zealander Scott McLaughlin (1:11.3995) for the No 1 spot.

Walkinshaw Racing pair Tim Slade and Garth Tander will start from third and fourth on the grid respectively ahead of championship leader Jamie Whincup.

The five-time driver's champion was lucky to avoid disaster after clipping a wall early in his shootout lap, recovering to ensure fifth spot on the grid.

Ford star Mark Winterbottom missed the top 10 shootout and will start from 11th position, just one place behind Whincup's teammate Craig Lowndes whose lap in the shootout was scrubbed after he cut a corner.

The pole position is van Gisbergen's second in a row after claiming the top grid spot for the Bathurst 1000 earlier this month.

That race ended in disaster for the Holden ace after his starter motor failed when he was leading the 1000km classic with just nine laps left but he says he's confident going into the 102-lap event on the Surfers Paradise street circuit.

"Starting in front, hopefully clear air and just keep the tyres a bit cooler," van Gisbergen told the Seven Network.

-AAP