Allan Simonsen has handed Marranello Motorsport Friday bragging rights at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour by setting the fastest time of the day in the third and final practice session.
The Melbourne-based team switched from Pirelli to Michelin tyres prior to the last of the 50 minute sessions after striking issues during the day’s earlier running.
Simonsen started the session in the car to evaluate the different rubber, clocking a best of 2:08.54s at the 20 minute mark before handing over to co-driver Peter Edwards.
The #63 Erebus Mercedes and #33 Clearwater Ferrari ended up second and third respectively after Lee Holdsworth and Craig Baird recorded near identical 2:08.6s during a mid-session flurry.
Steven Richards moved the #48 GB Galvanizing Lamborghini to fourth after jumping in the car during the second half of the session, while the #11 JBS Lamborghini rounded out the top five.
The Practice 2 pace-setting #6 Skwirk Audi of Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff and Rod Salmon was just sixth fastest in the final session after focusing on giving car owner Salmon maximum seat time.
Practice 3 was punctured by a single red flag, called just 10 minutes in to retrieve the #26 GWS BMW after a spin at the top of the Mountain.
The #80 Beric Lynton BMW 1M completed just one lap as it continued to struggle with electrical problems, causing Lynton to replace the car with his venerable M3 for the remainder of the weekend.
CLICK HERE for the Practice 3 result
