Mostert tops final practice in Supercars opener

Chaz Mostert has topped the final practice session for this weekend’s Mount Panorama 500, ending a perfect day for the Walkinshaw Andretti driver.

Cam Waters was once again second-fastest, though this time was a mere 0.01s adrift of Mostert’s best lap time.

The highest-placed Kiwi was Shane van Gisbergen, who experienced a mistake at the chase on what would have been his fastest lap. The Red Bull driver ended the day eighth quickest, 0.8s behind Mostert.

Andre Heimgartner was 15th, while Fabian Coulthard could only muster 17th fastest in the Team Sydney Commodore.

The hour-long session began with Todd Hazelwood expelling a significant amount of smoke with a steering rack drama.

But it was the other Brad Jones Racing Commodore of Macauley Jones who would bring out the session’s only red flag. The Coca-Cola entry sailed off the road at the chase and buried himself in the sand trap.

Most of the field spent the opening twenty minutes circling on older rubber. Brodie Kostecki then triggered the start of the flying laps when he bolted on a set of new tyres, immediately posting a 2.06.148.

That time was then bettered by Tim Slade, who was the first driver to dip into the 2.05s bracket.

Mostert soon hauled himself to the head of the timing boards, with van Gisbergen slotting in behind Slade. The New Zealander then improved his time the following lap, switching his order on the results sheet with Slade.

Waters then found a purple patch in pace in the latter half, posting the session’s fastest lap time. However, Mostert dug deep and found an extra few tenths to ensure he ended the day as the quickest driver.

Scott Pye would finish third, with Slade’s best time set earlier in the session good enough for fourth.

James Courtney, Kostecki, Bryce Fullwood, van Gisbergen, Anton de Pasquale and Winterbottom rounded out the top-ten.

Jamie Whincup was a notable omission from the front, ending up 16th.

Practice is now wrapped up for the weekend, with qualifying up next for the Supercars paddock and scheduled to begin from 11.05 am NZT.