Thomas Randle has ended the opening S5000 session of the weekend fastest at The Bend Motorsport Park.

Randle banked a 1:41.6079s with his final lap to end the 20-minute hit out on top, though the Pirtek Enduo Cup co-driver had already established himself as the benchmark.

Midway through the session he moved to the top of the timing screens, twice bettering that effort as the clock ticked down.

His best proved just under a second shy of the outright lap record, currently held by John Magro at 1:40.7295 at the wheel of a Formula 3 car.

James Golding had opened the session fastest, his 1:45.4043s putting him ahead of Anton de Pasquale, Tim Macrow, Ricky Capo, and Will Brown after their first timed laps.

While Golding improved, so too did de Pasquale, lowering the benchmark to 1:43.0632s.

The Erebus driver then banked a 1:42.4398s before taking to the pits midway through the session.

By the time he’d emerged it was Randle who was fastest, de Pasquale demoted to second from Golding, Macrow, and Capo.

As the chequered flag fell it was Brown who had deposed Capo for fifth, with James Winslow seventh, Capo eighth, Michael Gibson, and Braydan Willmington rounding out the field.

The second practice session of the weekend is set to begin at 1505 ACDT.

Results: S5000, Practice 1