Team 18’s new recruit Anton De Pasquale has got the new relationship off to a good start by setting the fastest time in the opening Repco Supercars Championship session of the year at the Thrifty Sydney 500.
In a less dramatic session when compared to the pre-season test session on Wednesday, De Pasquale led teammate David Reynolds by 0.474s.
Behind the two Team 18 Chevrolet Camaros was the Snowy River Racing Ford Mustang of James Courtney from his teammate Aaron Love, while R&J Batteries Racing’s Andre Heimgartner completed the top five.
Bryce Fullwood was sixth in the Middy’s Racing Camaro run by Brad Jones Racing from Cameron Hill’s Supaglass Racing example and Shell V-Power Racing Team’s new signee Brodie Kostecki.
Monster Castrol Racing’s Thomas Randle placed ninth at the end of the session from the Mobil 1 Truck Assist Racing Mustang of Ryan Wood.
Just outside the top 10 were Nick Percat, reigning champion Will Brown, Richie Stanaway, James Golding and Matt Payne.
Broc Feeney was 18th ahead of Chaz Mostert, while Wildcard driver Cameron Crick was 23rd.
The next session for the Repco Supercars Championship is qualifying for Race 1 at 4:20pm.