McLaughlin sets the pace in Practice 1

Scott McLaughlin emerged fastest in the first practice session for the main game drivers at the Coates Hire Ipswich Super Sprint.

The DJR Team Penske driver posted his benchmark effort early in the 45 minute outing which stood the test of time.

McLaughlin produced a 1:09.57s which was challenged by Brad Jones Racing’s Tim Slade in the dying minutes, who was 0.049s shy of the championship leader.

The car was good straight away,” said McLaughlin.

“Even on the warm up tyres we use to warm the brakes up and stuff it was really good, so it’s a good start absolutely, and we’ll just try and build that from there.”

Erebus Motorsport’s David Reynolds looked set to end up second before Slade’s time, which dropped him to third.

McLaughlin’s team-mate Fabian Coulthard ended up fourth in the sister #12 Falcon FGX.

Shane van Gisbergen proved the top Triple Eight entry in fifth after posting a time in the final 10 minutes of the session.

Rick Kelly topped the early running before settling for sixth in the #15 Nissan Altima, ahead of Chaz Mostert (Prodrive Ford), Will Davison (Tekno Autosports) and Michael Caruso (#23 Nissan Altima).

Nick Percat round out the top 10 after his Brad Jones Racing Holden underwent an engine change following an issue in the additional driver practice with Macauley Jones at the wheel.

Cameron Waters ended up just outside the top 10 in 11th in front of Jamie Whincup.

James Courtney was the top Mobil 1 HSV Racing runner in 16th position with team-mate Scott Pye in 18th spot.

The session ran largely clean with Slade, Jason Bright and Craig Lowndes the only cars to endure brief off track excursions.

Jack Le Brocq finished as the fastest wildcard runner in 15th, while Todd Hazelwood was 22nd after topping the additional driver practice.

It proved to be a difficult session for Mark Winterbottom, who described his Prodrive Ford as ‘horrible’ having managed a time only good enough for 26th position.

“The car’s horrible, there’s no hiding behind it,” said Winterbottom.

“I don’t know why it’s so bad, but thankfully it’s Practice 1 and not Race 1 because, two sets of tyres, and I’ve never had a car handle like that before so hopefully we’ll have a look and see what we can find, and tune her up for the next one.

“It’s just got no front-end, so when you turn in the front just folds and I’m just running out of road because the corner finishes at some stage and I’m still trying to turn as you’re on the throttle and you’ve just got no roll speed.

“When you come in and look at the sectors, and we break it down to about eight sectors here, and my best microsector is 19th or 20th so it’s bad everywhere, it’s not just one corner or two corners, it’s the whole track.”

Alex Davison was 30th on his return to Supercars with Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport.

The field will return for a second 45 minute practice session at 1500 local time.

Results: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship: Coates Hire Ipswich Super Sprint Practice 1