Coca-Cola Racing by Erebus driver Will Brown has taken first bragging rights in Townsville after finishing the opening practice session fastest.
Brown set a 1m 13.970s to lead Blanchard Racing Team’s Todd Hazelwood by 0.220s in the lead Ford Mustang as fresh from his NASCAR Cup Series win in Chicago, Shane van Gisbergen was third.
However, the Red Bull Ampol Racing Team driver continued to complain about the steering just like at Hidden Valley and Brown’s teammate Brodie Kostecki also endured a similar problem leading to him not completing the session.
Broc Feeney in the second Red Bull Ampol Racing Chevrolet Camaro was fourth ahead of the R&J Batteries Racing entry of Andre Heimgartner completed the top five.
Penrite Racing’s David Reynolds led Darwin race winner Mark Winterbottom in the DEWALT Racing Chevrolet, Middy’s Racing driver Bryce Fullwood, Macauley Jones in the Pizza Hut Racing entry and Scott Pye rounded out the top 10 in his Hino-backed Camaro.
Kostecki was 11th due to the steering problem, while Shell V-Power Racing Team’s Anton De Pasquale was 12th and new father Will Davison 19th, Cameron Waters was 17th, Chaz Mostert 20th and James Courtney 22nd.
Another practice session is to follow for the Repco Supercars Championship at 2:45pm AEST.