Brad Jones Racing’s Andre Heimgartner has finished the opening day of the Repco Supercars Championship on top of the timesheets after setting the fastest time in the second practice session.
Heimgartner achieved a time of 1m 13.419s to edge Monster Energy Racing’s Cameron Waters by 0.098s in the fastest Ford Mustang, while opening practice and Supercars Championship leader Shane van Gisbergen was third.
Rounding out the top five was last start winner Chaz Mostert in the Mobil 1 Optus Racing Holden ZB Commodore ahead of Macauley Jones, who solidified BJR’s strong Townsville form.
Shell V-Power Racing’s Will Davison led the way for the title contending team in sixth as another BJR in Bryce Fullwood followed from Todd Hazelwood in the Truck Assist Racing entry, Mobil 1 NTI Racing’s Nick Percat and Scott Pye in his newly repaired Nulon Commodore completed the top 10.
Further down the field was Davison’s teammate Anton De Pasquale in 11th, just ahead of Red Bull Ampol Racing rookie Broc Feeney as Erebus Motorsport struggled with Brodie Kostecki 13th and Will Brown 23rd.
Pit lane practice was conducted during the second session including refuelling ahead of the twin 250km races, but the concrete proved slippery for some as Fullwood and Feeney slid through tehir pit bays to contact crew members.
There were no serious injuries.
The opening session held earlier in the day was led by van Gisbergen on a 1m 13.688s led Heimgartner by 0.097s as Pye completed the top three.
Davison, De Pasquale, Feeney, Grove Racing’s David Reynolds, Hazelwood, Tim Slade in the Blanchard Racing Team Mustang and Irwin Racing’s Mark Winterbottom.
Tomorrow’s Repco Supercars Championship action continues 9:50am with qualifying for Race 19.