By Matthew Agius

Defending V8 Supercar Champion, Rick Kelly, has taken the pole position in the final qualifying of the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series at the Dunlop Grand Finale, Phillip Island.

Kelly claimed pole at the circuit where he raised his 2006 championship trophy, after completing twenty laps of the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.

He led Mark Skaife in the lead Holden Racing Team Commodore, by almost two tenths of a second.

Championship leader, Jamie Whincup, was third in the Team Vodafone BF Falcon, putting in a solid qualifying after placing down the order in Friday practice.

Todd Kelly was fourth in qualifying after a strong showing during practice – again delivering the Holden Racing Team two cars in the top five during a session this weekend.

Jason Richards placed fifth for Tasman Motorsport – well ahead of team mate Greg Murphy who qualified mid pack in fifteenth position.

Whincup's team mate, triple champion Craig Lowndes, was sixth in the #888 Vodafone Falcon.

Despite being twenty-one points adrift of his team mate in the championship race, Lowndes has qualified ahead of second-placed Garth Tander, and will be looking at making the championship a one-two finish for Team Vodafone.

Tander will start on the fourth row, after a disappointing effort in qualifying saw his championship rivals outshine and place higher than him.

It has been shown throughout 2007 that Team Vodafone generally produces better 'race-cars' and Tander will be looking to show deadly speed in this afternoon's opening race and reel in his title rivals.

Mark Winterbottom was eighth for Ford Performance Racing after an off-track excursion saw him unable to collect a fifth pole for 2007.
Russell Ingall was ninth in his final qualifying session for Stone Brothers Racing, and will look to score his final championship points in a Ford.

Will Davison rounded out the top ten for Jim Beam Racing.

Both Tander and Winterbottom were evenly locked at five poles apiece heading into this weekend's final round.

Despite neither driver claiming the front slot of the grid, Tander was announced as winner of the ArmorAll pole position award on count-back.

The Toll HSV Dealer Team driver will hope to add a championship title to that award this weekend.

This afternoon's opening race will begin at 3.45pm local time.