R&J Batteries Racing’s Andre Heimgartner has opened the third weekend of the Repco Supercars Championship season at Taupo fastest following a shortened opening practice session.
Although a New Zealander topped the timesheets, there were mixed fortunes for others including Ryan Wood after he hit the tyre bundle at the penultimate corner to break his steering and pulled up at the exit of the final corner leading to an early finish to the session.
Heimgartner was on top at the time on a 1m 26.883s, 0.025s to the better of Dewalt Racing’s Anton De Pasquale in a Chevrolet 1-2.
Penrite Racing’s Matt Payne made a solid start to his home round in third from Cameron Hill for Supaglass Racing and Wood completed the top five in his Mobil 1 Truck Assist Racing Mustang.
Wood’s teammate and title contender Chaz Mostert was sixth ahead of Shell V-Power Racing Team’s Brodie Kostecki, the lead Red Bull Ampol Racing Camaro of Broc Feeney, PremiAir Nulon Racing’s Richie Stanaway as reigning Repco Supercars Championship winner Will Brown rounded out the top top 10.
Just missing a top placing were Jack Le Brocq, Will Davison, Cam Waters, Thomas Randle and Jaxon Evans.
David Reynolds and Nick Percat ended the session just inside the top 20.
Turn 9 proved a talking point after the session as many drivers struggled with understeer dropping off the road on exit at the end of a rapid change of direction.
The second and final practice session for the Repco Supercars Championship is scheduled for 12:30pm AEST or 2:30pm NZST.