Replacement racer David Russell has proved that he will be one to watch in this weekend’s Carrera Cup round at Bathurst by setting the fastest time in practice.
Substituting for Elite racer Roger Lago who has business commitments, Russell set the quickest time in the second of two interrupted 20-minute sessions to be fastest overall on the day.
The first session ended early after Nick Foster tagged wall at the Esses leaving Warren Luff at the top of the time sheets. Then Luff made significant contact with the concrete at Reid Park bringing out the red flag in Practice 2.
Despite being quickest, Russell admitted to still coming to grips with the current Spec 991 GT3 Cup Car, which he last drove in the mini-enduro round at Phillip Island in May.
In the Elite category Shane Smollen was fastest.
The Carrera Cup has a single qualifying session tomorrow morning before the first race in the mid afternoon.
VIDEO: David Russell and Shane Smollen speak after practice
Practice 1
| Pos | No. | Sponsor | Driver | Time | Gap |
| 1 | 7 | No Second Chance/Phase 8 | Warren Luff (QLD) | 2:10.6291 | |
| 2 | 23 | JBS Australia | David Russell (QLD) | 2:12.4765 | 0:01.8474 |
| 3 | 1 | Bonaire / Wilson Security | Craig Baird (VIC) | 2:14.1740 | 0:03.5449 |
| 4 | 12 | Laser Plumbing & Electrical | Steven Richards (VIC) | 2:14.4318 | 0:03.8027 |
| 5 | 88 | Davbridge Constructions | Shae Davies (QLD) | 2:15.2100 | 0:04.5809 |
| 6 | 29 | Onsite Rental Racing | Michael Patrizi (SA) | 2:15.2617 | 0:04.6326 |
| 7 | 777 | Bob Jane T-Marts | Nick Foster (VIC) | 2:15.5966 | 0:04.9675 |
| 8 | 56 | McGrath Estate Agents | Shane Smollen (NSW) | 2:16.0038 | 0:05.3747 |
| 9 | 26 | Copyworld | Michael Almond (SA) | 2:16.8646 | 0:06.2355 |
| 10 | 27 | Childhood Cancer Association | Sam Power (SA) | 2:17.1051 | 0:06.4760 |
| 11 | 77 | Bob Jane T-Marts | Nick McBride (VIC) | 2:17.7276 | 0:07.0985 |
| 12 | 45 | VIP Petfoods | Duvashen Padayachee (NSW) | 2:17.9696 | 0:07.3405 |
| 13 | 9 | Hallmarc | Marc Cini (VIC) | 2:18.5246 | 0:07.8955 |
| 14 | 24 | Alternative Freight Services / | Tony Bates (VIC) | 2:18.8214 | 0:08.1923 |
| 15 | 11 | Royal Purple Oil / Garth Walde | Ash Samadi (NSW) | 2:20.2114 | 0:09.5823 |
| 16 | 13 | Porsche Centre Brighton | James Bergmuller (VIC) | 2:20.5842 | 0:09.9551 |
| 17 | 5 | Objective Racing | Tony Walls (QLD) | 2:20.8555 | 0:10.2264 |
| 18 | 4 | Grove Group | Stephen Grove (VIC) | 2:20.9503 | 0:10.3212 |
| 19 | 22 | Phenix Motorsport | Brenton Ramsay (SA) | 2:24.2101 | 0:13.5810 |
| 20 | 222 | Scott Taylor Motorsport | Scott Taylor (QLD) | 2:24.7133 | 0:14.0842 |
| 21 | 55 | Fujitsu Racing | Renee Gracie (QLD) | 2:24.9450 | 0:14.3159 |
| 22 | 39 | Veritas | Adrian Mastronardo (NSW) | 2:27.5124 | 0:16.8833 |
| 23 | 10 | Finance EZI/Foxtel | Maurice Pickering (QLD) | 2:29.5400 | 0:18.9109 |
Practice 1
| Pos | No. | Sponsor | Driver | Time | Gap |
| 1 | 23 | JBS Australia | David Russell (QLD) | 2:10.2021 | |
| 2 | 12 | Laser Plumbing & Electrical | Steven Richards (VIC) | 2:10.2228 | 0:00.0207 |
| 3 | 29 | Onsite Rental Racing | Michael Patrizi (SA) | 2:10.7558 | 0:00.5537 |
| 4 | 1 | Bonaire / Wilson Security | Craig Baird (VIC) | 2:11.4803 | 0:01.2782 |
| 5 | 27 | Childhood Cancer Association | Sam Power (SA) | 2:12.6202 | 0:02.4181 |
| 6 | 7 | No Second Chance/Phase 8 | Warren Luff (QLD) | 2:12.6358 | 0:02.4337 |
| 7 | 26 | Copyworld | Michael Almond (SA) | 2:12.7385 | 0:02.5364 |
| 8 | 88 | Davbridge Constructions | Shae Davies (QLD) | 2:13.1048 | 0:02.9027 |
| 9 | 777 | Bob Jane T-Marts | Nick Foster (VIC) | 2:13.3263 | 0:03.1242 |
| 10 | 77 | Bob Jane T-Marts | Nick McBride (VIC) | 2:14.0014 | 0:03.7993 |
| 11 | 45 | VIP Petfoods | Duvashen Padayachee NSW | 2:15.2655 | 0:05.0634 |
| 12 | 56 | McGrath Estate Agents | Shane Smollen (NSW) | 2:15.4061 | 0:05.2040 |
| 13 | 24 | Alternative Freight Services / | Tony Bates (VIC) | 2:15.9226 | 0:05.7205 |
| 14 | 4 | Grove Group | Stephen Grove (VIC) | 2:16.5461 | 0:06.3440 |
| 15 | 11 | Royal Purple Oil / Garth Walde | Ash Samadi (NSW) | 2:16.5788 | 0:06.3767 |
| 16 | 9 | Hallmarc | Marc Cini (VIC) | 2:16.9920 | 0:06.7899 |
| 17 | 13 | Porsche Centre Brighton | James Bergmuller (VIC) | 2:17.8818 | 0:07.6797 |
| 18 | 22 | Phenix Motorsport | Brenton Ramsay (SA) | 2:19.2924 | 0:09.0903 |
| 19 | 55 | Fujitsu Racing | Renee Gracie (QLD) | 2:20.2821 | 0:10.0800 |
| 20 | 5 | Objective Racing | Tony Walls (QLD) | 2:21.3856 | 0:11.1835 |
| 21 | 10 | Finance EZI/Foxtel | Maurice Pickering (QLD) | 2:22.9137 | 0:12.7116 |
| 22 | 222 | Scott Taylor Motorsport | Scott Taylor (QLD) | 2:25.6883 | 0:15.4862 |
| 23 | 39 | Veritas | Adrian Mastronardo (NSW | 2:27.0393 | 0:16.8372 |
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