Dumbrell impresses in opening Dunlop practice

Paul Dumbrell set a blistering pace to top the times in the opening Dunlop Series practice session of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 weekend.

The Eggleston Motorsport driver was quick from the outset to head the timesheets with a 2:11.0s after his first run, before lowering his personal best to an impressive 2:08.14s late in the session.

Dumbrell’s effort was more than two seconds quicker than the fastest time set in opening practice last year.

After dominating the hit out, the Red Bull Racing Australia V8 Supercars co-driver was 0.2s quicker than MW Motorsport’s Chris Pither.

Brad Jones Racing’s Andrew Jones enjoyed a solid run to finish in third spot a tenth further back.

Series leader Cameron Waters in the Prodrive Racing Ford was fourth fastest 0.4s adrift of Dumbrell.

Eggleston Motorsport duo of Ant Pedersen and Garry Jacobson were fifth and sixth respectively, although the latter had smoke bellowing from the rear of his Commodore during the session.

Jack Le Brocq, Todd Hazelwood, Josh Kean and Macauley Jones rounded out the top 10.

Television presenter Grant Denyer finished in 13th spot on his return to the category, while debutant Liam McAdam was 18th.

The action was halted after just five minutes when Dan Day lost control of his Image Racing Falcon at The Chase, which brought out the red flags.

The South Australian dropped a wheel on the dirt which fired him across the track and into the gravel trap narrowly avoiding Aaron McGill.

Luckily Day was able to rejoin the session once his car was retrieved.

Result Dunlop Series Practice 1, Mount Panorama