Two-time defending Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has hit back to claim pole for the first race of the Perth Supersprint.

Van Gisbergen will start from the front of the grid for Saturday’s 42-lap race at Wanneroo Raceway as he seeks to atone for a below-par start to the season.

It was the 33-year-old’s 47th career pole, setting the fastest time early in the qualifying session.

Brodie Kostecki enters the third round of the season as a surprise championship leader following two victories at the Australian Grand Prix round.

The Erebus driver will start at the front with van Gisbergen after securing the second-fastest time in the three-part qualifying session.

Van Gisbergen, who is third in the championship standings, said he was still getting used to driving his Gen3 Camaro.

“We really struggled (on Friday) and today it (the car) come alive,” he said.

“I feel like I’m wobbling, I can’t drive the thing. I just drive around and do what it does.

“The sun’s out and the track’s just getting hotter and hotter.

“It was a long session so we just picked the part where we thought where there would be no cars on the track and went around by ourselves.”

The first 42-lap race of the Perth Supersprint - and seventh of the season - gets underway 3.45 pm AWST.

SUPERCARS PERTH SUPERSPRINT GRID RACE ONE

1. Shane van Gisbergen (Red Bull Ampol)

2. Brodie Kostecki (Coca Cola Racing)

3. David Reynolds (Grove Racing)

4. Jack Le Brocq (Matt Stone Racing)

5. Matt Payne (Grove Racing).