Major sets Australian GT pace at Barbagallo

Peter Major was the fastest Australian GT runner following the opening day of running in Barbagallo.

The West Australian set a 53.3746s effort that was two seconds under the race lap record and more than four tenths clear of second fastest Peter Hackett.

Major ended the opening session second fastest to Hackett before setting the day’s best, and the fastest recorded GT3 lap around Barbagallo, in the back half of the day’s second practice.

Practice 1 was held under bright blue skies in the afternoon, while Practice 2 took place as the sun set.

It proved a more accurate representation of race conditions, with Friday’s heat set to begin in darkness at 2000 (2200 AEST).

“That’s probably faster than I thought we were going to go to be perfectly honest,” said Major.

“We’ve really tuned the car a long way from where we started, we’re a lot stiffer everywhere.

“That’s made it a little bit sketchy to drive and hopefully it looks after its tyres over a race distance, but for outright race pace it’s definitely much quicker.”

Youngster Ryan How again impressed, setting the fifth fastest time in opening practice and the fourth fastest time in the latter session.

Driving a Trophy Class Audi some five years the senior of many of those around him, How was more than two seconds faster than his nearest class rival.

“In Practice 2 we made a few adjustments in the car just to fix the balance, but it felt really good,” How said.

“We ran a little bit better tyre in Practice 2, and new brakes, and the car just really responded to the nighttime conditions.”

Both of the day’s 30-minute sessions ran without interruption, with all 15 cars ending the day unscathed despite a handful of close calls as evening fell.

Australian GT returns at 1405 local time on Friday for a back-to-back qualifying session which will set the grid for the opening 40-minute race of the weekend at 2000.

Result: Australian GT, Practice 1

Result: Australian GT, Practice 2