Dylan O’Keeffe has set the pace in the opening practice session for TCR Australia Series Round 4 at Queensland Raceway.
The Ash Seward Motorsport driver ended the 30 minute session with a comfortable margin over the field in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
O’Keeffe moved the to the top of the times early in the session before continuing to chip away at his benchmark, lowering his personal best to a 1:14.07s effort.
Series leader Will Brown came the closest to O’Keeffe with his HMO Customer Racing Hyundai i30 N, 0.39s adrift of the two-time race winner.
Former TCR International Series champion Jean-Karl Vernay quickly adapted to Queensland Raceway to be third fastest, driving the #4 Melbourne Performance Centre Audi RS3.
The 31-year-old vastly experienced TCR driver is conducting a one-off drive in the series this weekend.
A late effort from Aaron Cameron (Melbourne Performance Centre, Volkswagen Golf) saw the young gun claim fourth, demoting James Moffat (Garry Rogers Motorsport, Renault) to fifth.
Tony D’Alberto was the fastest Honda in sixth ahead of Russell Ingall, who has returned for a second round in the series in the #100 Audi RS3.
The top 10 was completed by The Bend race winner John Martin (Wall Racing, Honda), Nathan Morcom (HMO Customer Racing, Hyundai) and Chris Pither (Garry Rogers Motorsport, Renault).
Only 17 cars took to the track for practice with Andre Heimgartner sitting out the session as Kelly Racing worked on the #777 Opel Astra.
The TCR Australia field will return for Practice 2 at 1515 AEST.
Results: TCR Australia Practice 1, Queensland Raceway
Pos | Num | Driver | Team | Car | Time | Gap |
1 | 9 | Dylan O’Keeffe (Vic) | Ashley Seward Motorsport | Alfa Romeo Giulietta | 1:14.0776 | |
2 | 30 | William Brown (Qld) | HMO Customer Racing | Hyundai i30N | 1:14.4680 | 00.3904 |
3 | 4 | Jean-Karl Vernay (FRA) | Melbourne Performance Centre | Audi RS 3 | 1:14.5516 | 00.4740 |
4 | 2 | Aaron Cameron (Vic) | Melbourne Performance Centre | Volkswagen Golf GTI | 1:14.6087 | 00.5311 |
5 | 34 | James Moffat (Vic) | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Renault Megane RS | 1:14.6410 | 00.5634 |
6 | 50 | Tony D’Alberto (Vic) | Wall Racing | Honda Civic Type R | 1:14.7887 | 00.7111 |
7 | 100 | Russell Ingall (Qld) | Melbourne Performance Centre | Audi RS 3 | 1:14.7919 | 00.7143 |
8 | 24 | John Martin (NSW) | Wall Racing | Honda Civic Type R | 1:14.8250 | 00.7474 |
9 | 11 | Nathan Morcom (NSW) | HMO Customer Racing | Hyundai i30N | 1:14.8803 | 00.8027 |
10 | 33 | Chris Pither (NZ) | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Renault Megane RS | 1:15.1193 | 01.0417 |
11 | 8 | Jason Bright (Vic) | Taskforce / Alliance Autosport | Volkswagon Golf GTI | 1:15.2006 | 01.1230 |
12 | 62 | Alex Rullo (WA) | Kelly Racing | Holden Astra | 1:15.2313 | 01.1537 |
13 | 3 | Leanne Tander (Vic) | Melbourne Performance Centre | Audi RS 3 | 1:15.3301 | 01.2525 |
14 | 7 | Jordan Cox (NSW) | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Alfa Romeo Giulietta | 1:15.4639 | 01.3863 |
15 | 35 | Alexandra Whitley (Qld) | Alliance Autosport | Volkswagon Golf GTI | 1:16.1138 | 02.0362 |
16 | 6 | Molly Taylor (NSW) | Kelly Racing | Subaru WRX STi | 1:16.2764 | 02.1988 |
17 | 38 | Jordan Michels (NZ) | Wall Racing | Honda Civic Type R | 1:16.6062 | 02.5286 |