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Michael Almond has been the surprise pacesetter during practice for the Carrera Cup on the streets of Townsville.
After setting the second fastest time in the opening session to multiple champion Craig Baird, Almond was the quickest from the outset in practice 2.
After a shocking run in the second race at the previous event at Phillip Island; which saw him not even take the green light due to a broken driveshaft, Almond made best use of quality used tyres to get the most out of himself and the car.
In what he described as his best day in motor sport, Almond also benefitted from track time in the V8 Utes to dial himself into the Reid Park Circuit.
After an unusual incident in the first practice, Baird showed strong pace to be second quickest in the final practice. In the morning session, both of his car’s headlamps fell out and he completed the session with black tape over the front corners.
The car was sign-written prior to the weekend and it’s believed that the headlamps were not properly secured. Both were collected from out on the circuit and re-fitted with extra clear tape to ensure they would hold for this afternoon.
In the Tag Heuer Carrera Challenge Tony Bates was fastest in the first session while Shane Smollen was quickest in the second practice to head the time sheets overall in the semi-pro category.
The Carrera Cup will qualify tomorrow morning at 9.40am – with the opening 20 lap race in the afternoon from 3pm.
VIDEO: Almond and Smollen speak after practice
Practice 2 – Carrera Cup
| Position | #Car | Driver | Sponsor | Fastest Lap |
| 1 | 26 | Michael Almond | Copyworld | 01:14.6 |
| 2 | 8 | Craig Baird | Porsche Centre Melbourne | 01:14.7 |
| 3 | 777 | Nick Foster | Bob Jane T-Marts | 01:14.8 |
| 4 | 45 | Duvashen Padayachee | Darrell Lea Stix | 01:14.9 |
| 5 | 10 | David Russell | Finanze Ezi | 01:14.9 |
| 6 | 7 | Matt Campbell | Phase 8 | 01:14.9 |
| 7 | 22 | Richard Muscat | Wilson Security / PAYCE / Genis Steel | 01:15.0 |
| 8 | 11 | Simon Hodge | Team BRM | 01:15.1 |
| 9 | 1 | Steven Richards | Laser Plumbing & Electrical | 01:15.2 |
| 10 | 77 | Nick McBride | Bob Jane T-Marts | 01:15.3 |
| 11 | 25 | John Martin | Copyworld | 01:15.4 |
| 12 | 56 | Shane Smollen | McGrath Estate Agents | 01:15.4 |
| 13 | 65 | Fraser Ross | Porsche Centre Brighton | 01:15.6 |
| 14 | 24 | Tony Bates | AFS / TOP CAT Video Prod. | 01:15.7 |
| 15 | 23 | Roger Lago | JBS Australia | 01:16.1 |
| 16 | 4 | Stephen Grove | Grove Group | 01:16.2 |
| 17 | 13 | James Bergmuller | MotorOne Car Care | 01:16.3 |
| 18 | 6 | Ash Samadi | Apartment Hotel | 01:16.7 |
| 19 | 9 | Marc Cini | Hallmarc | 01:16.9 |
| 20 | 222 | Scott Taylor | Scott Taylor Motorsport | 01:17.0 |
| 21 | 39 | Adrian Mastronardo | Veritas | 01:17.3 |
Practice 1 – Carrera Cup
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Time Gap |
| 1 | 8 | Craig Baird | Porsche Centre Melbourne | 1:15.2562 |
| 2 | 26 | Michael Almond | Copyworld | +0.0110 |
| 3 | 77 | Nick McBride | Bob Jane T-Marts | +0.0114 |
| 4 | 777 | Nick Foster | Bob Jane T-Marts | +0.0200 |
| 5 | 1 | Steven Richards | Laser Plumbing & Electrical | +0.2534 |
| 6 | 7 | Matt Campbell | Phase 8 | +0.3537 |
| 7 | 10 | David Russell | Finanze Ezi | +0.3692 |
| 8 | 22 | Richard Muscat | Wilson Security / PAYCE / Geni | +0.5601 |
| 9 | 56 | Shane Smollen | McGrath Estate Agents | +0.5967 |
| 10 | 25 | John Martin | Copyworld | +0.5980 |
| 11 | 45 | Duvashen Padayachee | VIP Petfoods | +0.7701 |
| 12 | 11 | Simon Hodge | Team BRM | +1.1490 |
| 13 | 23 | Roger Lago | JBS Australia | +1.4810 |
| 14 | 65 | Fraser Ross | Porsche Centre Brighton | +1.7394 |
| 15 | 24 | Tony Bates | AFS / TOP CAT Video Prod. | +1.7505 |
| 16 | 6 | Ash Samadi | Apartment Hotel | +2.0738 |
| 17 | 9 | Marc Cini | Hallmarc | +2.2267 |
| 18 | 13 | James Bergmuller | MotorOne Car Care | +2.4082 |
| 19 | 4 | Stephen Grove | Grove Group | +2.5338 |
| 20 | 39 | Adrian Mastronardo | Veritas | +3.1479 |
| 21 | 222 | Scott Taylor | Scott Taylor Motorsport | +3.6713 |
2015 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship – Practice 1
