Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen will start Sunday's Bathurst 1000 off the third row of the grid, after finishing fifth in the top-10 shootout at Mount Panorama.
But last year's race winner - already crowned 2021 Supercars champion - wound up almost a second slower than Aussie polesitter Chaz Mostert around the 6.213km lap against the clock.
Van Gisbergen, 32, progressed to the shootout as the seventh-fastest provisional qualifier, with top grid positions decided by the dramatic time-trial format.
Driving in reverse order, he was fourth out on the track and set the early standard with 2m 04.3648s - marginally slower than his earlier qualifying time.
But every driver after him went faster, with Mostert hurtling around 'The Mountain' to a lap record of 2m 03.373s. Anton De Pasquale will sit alongside him on the front row, after finishing 0.289s adrift.
Van Gisbergen consolidated seventh spot on the track, but was bumped up a couple of spots, when Erebus Racing drivers Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki were disqualified, after their cars weighed in light.
"I mucked up at 'The Elbow' and hit the inside wall and this thing was rattling," Van Gisbergen said, pointing to his car.
"I was a bit soft into 'The Chase', I went too hard. It's all good, the wrist is a bit sore, but I got it done."
Mostert's pole is the first by a Walkinshaw car since Garth Tander in 2009 for the Holden Racing Team.
"I don't have the words," said Mostert, Bathurst winner in 2014.
"The car was just so enjoyable to drive, it's been awesome all weekend.
"Just want to thank our whole team, Walkinshaw Andretti United, we did it really tough at [Sydney Motorsport Park] for four weeks there.
"To all our members and fans, it's so good to have you back... I feel like that egged us on."
Mostert will start the race with co-driver Lee Holdsworth as one of the firm favourites to be crowned the new 'Kings of the Mountain'.
Join us from midday Sunday for live updates of the Bathurst 1000 from Mt Panorama
