Despite title contender Will Brown missing the Top 10 Shootout, his co-driver Scott Pye has led a Red Bull Ampol Racing 1-2 in the opening practice session of Saturday’s proceedings at the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Pye set a 2m 05.664s lap late in the session to pip the sister Camaro of team principal Jamie Whincup by 0.044s as third went to Mark Winterbottom in the lead Ford Mustang for Monster Castrol Racing.
Although Whincup was second it wasn’t without a minor drama after spinning at Hell Corner and getting bunkered in the gravel trap necessitating the session be neutralised.
This was the second red flag following Tickford Racing Wildcard Lochie Dalton running off and nudging the tyre wall at the same place.
Garth Tander was fourth in the Penrite Racing Mustang ahead of the Triple Eight Race Engineering Wildcard featuring Craig Lowndes in his final start for the team.
Mobil 1 Optus Racing’s Fabian Coulthard was sixth ahead of the impressive Nash Morris for PremiAir Racing, Tim Slade in the Bendix Racing Camaro, Erebus Motorsport rookie Jarrod Hughes and Tony D’Alberto completed the top 10 for the Shell V-Power Racing Team.
Just missing the first 10 positions were Lee Holdsworth, Jayden Ojeda, James Moffat, David Russell, Dale Wood and Cam McLeod.
Another all-in driver practice session is to follow at 1:10pm ahead of the Top 10 Shootout at 5:05pm.