Hazelwood sizzles in Sydney Dunlop practice

Todd Hazelwood has set the pace in practice for the final round of the Dunlop Series at the Coates Hire Sydney 500.

Title combatants and Prodrive Racing Australia team-mates Garry Jacobson and Jack Le Brocq, could only manage eighth and seventh respectively.

Hazelwood, who spent two spells on top during the morning’s opening half-hour session, jumped into the lead late in Practice 2.

Richard Muscat looked set to usurp the Matt Stone Racing driver after the chequered flag but didn’t make the best of the final sector and slotted into second.

Brad Jones Racing teammates Macauley Jones and Andrew Jones finished third- and fourth-fastest respectively.

James Golding was fifth on an eventful day for the Garry Rogers Motorsport protege.

The 20-year-old experienced a wild final-corner spin during Practice 1 before his Wilson Security Commodore was pushed back to the pits during the second session having failed to fire after a red flag period.

Golding did return to the track to set his time, edging Anton de Pasquale after the chequered flag.

Le Brocq ended the day a tenth of a second clear of series leader Jacobson, who was quickest in the opening session.

Taz Douglas escaped a minor scrape with the wall to take his Eggleston Motorsport Commodore to ninth, with Bryce Fullwood making up the top 10.

Both sessions ran without major incident despite the tight confines of the Sydney Olympic Park circuit, with just a brief red flag period for debris midway through Practice 2.

All drivers set their fastest laps during the second thirty-minute session despite running in near 35-degree temperatures during the middle of the day.

The Dunlop Series returns to the track for a 15-minute qualifying session tomorrow from 1145 AEDT.

Result: Dunlop Series Practice 1

Result: Dunlop Series Practice 2