Gen3 made its debut this morning on streets of Newcastle, with all 25 Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaros built to the new regulation ruleset took to the track for the first time at a Repco Supercars Championship event.
Carrying on from the pace displayed at the Sydney Motorsport Park Supercars group test, Brad Jones Racing led the way in opening practice at Newcastle courtesy of the R&J Batteries supported Chevrolet Camaro of Andre Heimgartner on a 1m 11.995s
Second was the Coca-Cola Racing by Erebus Camaro of Will Brown, falling just 0.181s short of Heimgartner’s time as David Reynolds in the Penrite Racing Ford Mustang ended the session third on a 1m 12.197s.
The two Walkinshaw Andretti United Mustangs followed, with Nick Percat pipping Chaz Mostert, while PremiAir Racing’s James Golding and Tim Slade followed in the Nulon sponsored Chevrolets.
Continuing BJR’s strong turn of pace, Bryce Fullwood was eighth in the Middy’s Camaro from Shell V-Power Racing’s Will Davison and Mark Winterbottom sporting new for 2023 DEWALT support on his Team 18 Camaro.
Just missing the top 10 was reigning champion Shane van Gisbergen in the lead Red Bull Ampol Racing Team Chevrolet Camaro, while the second Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustang of Anton De Pasquale was 14th.
Coca-Cola Racing by Erebus driver Brodie Kostecki was 17th, Cameron Waters led the Tickford Raicng charge in his Monster Energy entry in 19th and Broc Feeney was 20th for the Red Bull Ampol Racing Team.
Lead rookie was Cameron Hill in the Truck Assist Racing Chevrolet Camaro placing 16th.
Two practice sessions today continue the Repco Supercars Championship action, with the first being at 1:45pm AEDT.