Track evolution will be the talk of the opening day at Albert Park as the Repco Supercars Championship drivers found the conditions tough early during opening practice.
Mark Winterbottom’s DEWALT Racing led the session on a 1m 49.697s to lead the improved Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustang of Anton De Pasquale by 0.151s, with title contender Shane van Gisbergen third for Red Bull Ampol Racing.
However, the New Zealand ace spun off and pirouetting across the track as he ended up hitting the fence twice at to hit not just the front, but the rear as well.
In the Triple Eight sphere, customer team PremiAir Racing also had repairs to conduct as Tim Slade led to the first session stoppage as he hit the wall exiting Turn 5 damaging the rear suspension on his Chevrolet Camaro.
James Courtney was another to spin, but incurred no damage through Turns 1 and 2 in the Snowy River Racing Mustang.
Teammate Cameron Waters ended the session fourth in the Monster Energy Racing Mustang ahead of David Reynolds for Penrite Racing, the second Shell V-Power Racing Team entry of Will Davison, Coca-Cola Racing by Erebus’ Brodie Kostecki, Slade, van Gisbergen’s teammate Broc Feeney and Jack Le Brocq in the Truck Assist Racing Chevrolet completed the top 10.
Chaz Mostert was among those not to make the top 10, which also included Andre Heimgartner, Nick Percat, Courtney, Will Brown, James Golding and Scott Pye.
Slade and van Gisbergen won’t make the second practice session due to the damage.