Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin edged the Holden Racing Team’s James Courtney to set the fastest time in the opening V8 Supercars session of the season at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

McLaughlin recorded a 1:20.79s best in the dying stages of the 40 minute run to eclipse the 2010 champion by 0.033s.

Craig Lowndes was just 0.0006s further back in third following a flurry of late times on new hard compound rubber.

Red Bull team-mates Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen led the way for much of the session while teams ran the best of their pre-marked hards.

Times began to tumble in the final 10 minutes, with Jason Bright the first to eclipse Whincup’s 1:21.38s benchmark.

McLaughlin was the first into the 1:20s soon after and, while Courtney moved to the top with just a minute to go, the Volvo driver proved able to respond with a final lap of his own.

Van Gisbergen’s last lap netted fourth in the order, while Whincup was just 15th after a kerb strike infringement during his final run.

Rick Kelly gave Nissan hope for the new season with fifth ahead of DJR Team Penske pair Scott Pye and Fabian Coulthard, while Tim Slade, Michael Caruso and Garth Tander completed the top 10.

A second 40 minute practice session will take place from 1320 local time ahead of two qualifying sessions later in the afternoon.

Result: V8 Supercars Clipsal 500 Adelaide Practice 1