The Supercars Adelaide Grand Final roared into life on Thursday with the opening Supercars practice session, and while Cameron Waters stole the headlines with a late-session flyer, all eyes were also on the Kiwi quartet settling into the unique rhythm of the Adelaide streets.
Waters left his run late in the 30-minute hit-out but delivered when it counted, firing in a 1:19.5764s lap to edge out David Reynolds by a mere whisper.
Just 0.006s separated the pair when the flag fell, confirming Tickford Racing’s early pace and setting the tone for what looms as a high-stakes weekend.
Behind the headline battle, several New Zealanders were finding their feet amid the technical curbs and concrete-lined parklands circuit. Brad Jones Racing’s Andre Heimgartner became part of one of the session’s tense moments when his pit exit forced Kai Allen to check up approaching Turn 1.
Fortunately, both escaped without damage, though the near-miss highlighted how quickly things can unravel around the tight Adelaide layout.
Further down pit lane, Jaxon Evans was among the small group who rolled the dice on a second set of fresh soft tyres. The extra rubber allowed drivers to push harder in the closing stages and contributed to a flurry of kerb strikes as the field chased every thousandth of a second.
Evans’ decision signalled his intent to attack early as he works to establish momentum heading into the rest of the weekend.
Elsewhere, Matt Payne and Ryan Wood also put in their first laps. While neither Kiwi made the headlines for outright speed, both teams used the session to gather crucial data and both drivers finished inside the Top 10.
Payne’s smooth approach laid a promising foundation, while Wood continued his measured adaptation to the championship’s most demanding street circuit.
With tyre degradation and surface evolution set to play major roles across the next two days, their careful preparation could pay dividends when the field turns up the heat.
The practice wasn’t without its wild moments throughout the pack. Brodie Kostecki brushed the unforgiving Turn 8 wall, Broc Feeney threw his Triple Eight Camaro sideways at Turn 7, and a massive 86 kerb strikes were logged collectively at the Senna Chicane as drivers pushed deeper into the limits.
Championship combatants Chaz Mostert and Will Brown snuck into the top seven, but neither could match Waters’ scorchingly late burst.
American NASCAR import Austin Cindric, in his highly anticipated cameo, finished 23rd, just ahead of Jack Le Brocq and Jayden Ojeda. Still adapting to the Supercars machinery, the Penske driver showed steady progress throughout the session without courting unnecessary risk.
With ticked boxes, bruised tyres, and plenty of questions still unanswered, the field now resets for a packed Friday programme.
Practice 2 opens the day tomorrow at 1pm, before Qualifying at 3:10 PM and the first race of the weekend ignite the fight at 6:50 PM (All times NZST)
The Kiwi drivers may not have topped the sheets this time, but with Wood, Payne, Heimgartner and Evans all getting valuable laps under their belts, New Zealand’s charge is well-positioned to build as the curtain falls on another enthralling Supercars season.
Header Image: Supercars
