Ford star Scott McLaughlin might have won the Supercars drivers’ championship in a canter, but Holden are hot on his heels to cause an upset in the team title.

DJR Team Penske’s McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard lead Triple Eight’s Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup by 116 points leading into the season-ending Newcastle 500.

There are 576 points up for grabs this weekend and the Holden duo are eyeing an upset after setting the pace in Friday’s practice sessions.

Whincup posted the quickest lap and van Gisbergen was third fastest, meaning they would have collected 69 points more than McLaughlin (fourth) and Coulthard (eighth) in race conditions.

If they repeat that effort in the races on Saturday and Sunday, Triple Eight will take out the teams’ championship.

DJR Team Penske have won 20 of 30 races this season but had invited Triple Eight back into the title race after copping a heavy sanction from the Bathurst 1000.

McLaughlin won his first Bathurst crown but the team was stripped 300 points for Coulthard deliberately slowing behind the safety car.

Cameron Waters was second fastest in Friday’s first practice sessions on the Newcastle beachfront, while David Reynolds completed the top five.