Reigning Repco Bathurst 1000 winner Chaz Mostert has led the way at the conclusion of opening practice for the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown.
Mostert set a 1m 05.935s to lead Boost Mobile Racing’s Will Brown by 0.035s following the opening session of the weekend as the top six were covered by less than 0.1s.
Tickford Racing’s James Courtney was the lead Ford Mustang as he achieved a 1m 06.018s in his Snowy River Racing example, just edging a resurgent David Reynolds to continue Grove Racing’s superb form to be fourth.
Rounding out the top five was Brad Jones Racing’s Andre Heimgartner as he logged a 1m 06.850s in the R&J Batteries ZB Commodore, again another to carry good form from Winton to the Top End.
Race winner last time out at Winton, Monster Energy Racing’s Cameron Waters was sixth, from Mostert’s Walkinshaw Andretti United teammate Nick Percat, IRWIN Racing’s Mark Winterbottom, while Tickford Racing teammates Jake Kostecki and Thomas Randle made it all four regular entries for the team inside the top 10.
Repco Supercars Championship leader Shane van Gisbergen was 17th in his Red Bull Ampol Racing Team ZB Commodore, but regular Ford rivals were similarly placed as Dick Johnson Racing’s Will Davison was 14th and teammate Anton De Pasquale 16th.
Van Gisbergen’s rookie teammate Broc Feeney placed 22nd behind the lead Wildcard of Jayden Ojeda in the third Walkinshaw Andretti United Holden ZB Commodore.
The session remained uninterrupted throughout, although Brad Jones Racing’s Bryce Fullwood hit the tyre wall late in the session causing cosmetic damage to the right rear corner of his Middy’s Electrical ZB Commodore.
The second and final practice session for the Repco Supercars Championship is scheduled for 2:05pm ACST.