Matt Stone Racing's Nick Percat was second fastest, followed by Team 18 driver Mark Winterbottom.

"I reckon we shouldn't worry about the shootout and start from pole," Golding said after qualifying.

"The last couple of years has been pretty tough.

"It was a pleasure to drive, just really comfortable to push it on the limit without making mistakes."

Winterbottom will be looking to spoil Golding's party after winning in Darwin in June last year for his first race victory since 2016.

With five victories to his name, Winterbottom has the most race wins in Darwin out of the current grid.

"There's something about this place that rewards our car a certain way," he said.

"We won here last year and went to Tailum Bend (in South Australia) and qualified in the back row.

"It's not by any means fixed, the recipe or formula, but you've got to milk it while it's there.

"It's not like this every weekend."

Young gun Broc Feeney edged out Triple Eight teammate and current championship leader Will Brown by 0.0538 seconds to start the shootout in fourth.

Reigning champion Brodie Kostecki just missed the top 10 by less than half a second and will start the race in 11th place.

The top 10 shootout gets underway at 12.05 (AEST) on Saturday before the first race of the weekend at 3.40pm (AEST).

RACE 11 QUALIFYING RESULTS:

1. James Golding (PremAir Nulon Racing) 1:05.691s

2. Nick Percat (Matt Stone Racing) +0.074s

3. Mark Winterbottom (Team 18) +0.151s

4. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight Race Engineering) +0.205s

5. Will Brown (Triple Eight Race Engineering) +0.210s

6. Anton De Pasquale (Dick Johnson Racing) +0.252s

7. David Reynolds (Team 18) +0.265s

8. Tim Slade (PremAir Nulon Racing)  +0.270s

9. Cam Waters (Tickford Racing) +0.282s

10. Andre Heimgartner (Brad Jones Racing) +0.339s

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