V8 Ute Racing Series

Nathan Pretty has taken pole position for Round 4 of the V8 Ute Racing Series at Bathurst in his first start since last year’s season finale.

The 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour winner clocked a 2:31.7103s on his third lap, a time which stood up for the rest of the 20-minute session.

Pretty (#56 Burbank Homes Commodore), who was also fastest in both practice sessions, will share the front row with Ryal Harris (#58 Bushranger Falcon).

Row 2 will be Craig Dontas (#45 Shannons Commodore) and series leader Kim Jane (#27 Bob Jane T-Marts Commodore), and Row 3 Mick Sieders (#10 Sieders Commodore) and Jeremy Gray (#67 Lake and Valley Power Sports Falcon).

Scotty Cameron (#11 Little Real Estate Commodore) escaped a late-session spin at Griffins Bend with just a scuffed rear bumper on the left-hand side as he qualified eighth, alongside Marcus Zukanovic (#71 LMF Constructions Falcon).

Race 1 (6 laps) starts tomorrow at 1645 AEDT/local time.

Touring Car Masters

John Bowe ended the opening day of running for Touring Car Masters at Mount Panorama as fastest driver.

Bowe topped the second practice session with a 2:18.8127, beating his own previous marker set at the start of the session.

Second fastest was Steve Johnson, whose Mustang shed the right-hand door skin down Conrod Straight.

In third was Adam Garwood, ahead of Ryan Hansford and Adam Bressington rounding out the five.

Earlier, Ketih Kassulke’s weekend came to an early end after making contact with the wall at the Grate.

The car appeared to suffer a right front tyre failure which saw it understeer wide, the glancing impact heavy enough to end its participation.

Touring Car Masters is back on track at 0810 on Friday morning for Qualifying, its only session of the day.

Toyota 86 Racing Series

Ben Grice has set the fastest lap of the day in the morning’s first of two 20-minute practice sessions.

Grice lapped Mount Panorama in a best time of 2:40.9267 in the #16 G-Max entry.

The son of two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Allan was 2.4s slower as he finished third in an eventful Practice 2, sliding off-road at both Skyline and The Esses during the session.

Cameron Hill was second-fastest for the day by virtue of his Practice 1 personal best, despite being fastest in the afternoon.

Series leader Jimmy Vernon finished third-fastest as the top seven all set their best laps in the earlier session.

Invitees Leanne Tander and David Brabham were 18th and 21st respectively.

Toyota 86 is first on track tomorrow for Qualifying at 0740.