Steve Owen set the pace in Friday practice for the Toyota 86 Racing Series at the Watpac Townsville 400.

Owen, one of the invited drivers for Round 2, topped the timesheets on a 1:29.653s in Practice 1, which proved to the fastest of the day’s two sessions after Practice 2 was affected by rain.

Tim Brook and Declan Fraser were second and third fastest in the first session, followed by Jaden Ransley and Liam McAdam.

A heavy crash for Luke van Herwaarde marred Practice 2 and saw a lengthy red flag period with rain falling around the circuit.

Van Herwaarde lost control on the slippery exit kerb at Turn 6, spearing across the track and clouting the inside concrete wall.

The driver got out of car under his own steam, before the session resumed with 10 minutes on the clock having been extended by three minutes.

Lap times tumbled comparative to the earlier Practice 2 pace as the track conditions improved in the last few minutes.

Richard Peasey found himself at the top but on the last flying laps, he was pipped by Brook, who set a 1:34.236s.

Owen ended up second, while Peasey, Zane Morse and Fraser completed the top five in Practice 2.

Qualifying for the Toyota 86 Racing Series begins on Saturday at 0820 AEST.