Chaz Mostert bounced back from his Clipsal 500 woes to record the fastest time in the opening V8 Supercars session of the weekend at Albert Park.

The Prodrive Ford driver traded the top spot with stable-mate David Reynolds for much of the 30 minute hit-out.

Mostert eventually recorded the two quickest times of the session, with his best of 1:58.78s coming after the chequered flag.

“The guys have done a fantastic job to straighten the car out,” said Mostert, who endured a heavy accident on the final lap of the Sunday race in Adelaide less than two weeks ago.

“It’s good to come out and have some pace. It’s only early days and everyone has a mixed bag in terms of tyres but it’s a good start.”

Teams have just two sets of pre-marked tyres for practice, with many of those who endured misfortune in Adelaide benefiting from better rubber.

Scott McLaughlin and Will Davison set late quick times to end up second and third ahead of Mark Winterbottom, Shane van Gisbergen and Reynolds, who had a positive first hit-out in his FG X.

The track proved typically slippery in the early going, with several, including eventual seventh fastest man Craig Lowndes, surviving some wild off-track moments.

Clipsal 500 winner James Courtney wound up eighth fastest ahead of Todd Kelly and James Moffat in the leading Nissans.

The factory squad endured a difficult opening practice for Michael Caruso’s brand new chassis, which failed to complete a flying lap due to electrical issues.

The team completed the car yesterday, leaving no time for a pre-event shakedown.

Marcos Ambrose, who has this weekend moved back to the chassis he debuted in last year’s Sydney 500, ended up 22nd, ahead only of Volvo substitute driver Chris Pither and rookie Andre Heimgartner.

The second V8 Supercars practice of the weekend will get underway at 1510 local time.

Result: V8 Supercars Practice 1, Albert Park

1

Pepsi Max Crew

Chaz Mostert

Ford Falcon FG/X

01:58.78

2

Wilson Security Racing GRM

Scott McLaughlin

Volvo S60

01:59.11

00:00.33

3

Erebus Motorsport V8

Will Davison

Mercedes E63 AMG

01:59.20

00:00.42

4

Pepsi Max Crew

Mark Winterbottom

Ford Falcon FG/X

01:59.35

00:00.57

5

Team TEKNO Darrell Lea

Shane Van Gisberge

Holden Commodore VF

01:59.38

00:00.59

6

The Bottle-O Racing Team

David Reynolds

Ford Falcon FG/X

01:59.39

00:00.61

7

Red Bull Racing Australia

Craig Lowndes

Holden Commodore VF

01:59.55

00:00.76

8

Holden Racing Team

James Courtney

Holden Commodore VF

01:59.61

00:00.83

9

Nissan Motorsport

Todd Kelly

Nissan Altima

01:59.75

00:00.97

10

Nissan Mororsport

James Moffat

Nissan Altima

01:59.81

00:01.03

11

Walkinshaw Racing

Lee Holdsworth

Holden Commodore VF

01:59.84

00:01.06

12

Erebus Motorsport V8

Ashley Walsh

Mercedes E63 AMG

01:59.91

00:01.13

13

Repair Management Aust Racing

Nick Percat

Holden Commodore VF

01:59.92

00:01.13

14

Red Bull Racing Australia

Jamie Whincup

Holden Commodore VF

01:59.96

00:01.18

15

Supercheap Auto Racing

Tim Slade

Holden Commodore VF

02:00.01

00:01.23

16

Team BOC

Jason Bright

Holden Commodore VF

02:00.23

00:01.45

17

Freightliner Racing

Fabian Coulthard

Holden Commodore VF

02:00.29

00:01.51

18

Nissan Motorsport

Rick Kelly

Nissan Altima

02:00.55

00:01.77

19

Holden Racing Team

Garth Tander

Holden Commodore VF

02:00.63

00:01.84

20

Team Cooldrive

Tim Blanchard

Holden Commodore VF

02:00.98

00:02.20

21

Team GB Galvanizing

Dale Wood

Holden Commodore VF

02:01.13

00:02.35

22

DJR Team Penske

Marcos Ambrose

Ford Falcon FG/X

02:01.23

00:02.45

23

Wilson Security Racing GRM

Chris Pither

Volvo S60

02:01.32

00:02.53

24

Super Black Racing

Andre Heimgartner

Ford Falcon FG

02:01.85

00:03.07

Nissan Motorsport

Michael Caruso

Nissan Altima