Tander trumps Whincup in morning practice

Holden Racing Team driver Garth Tander has set the fastest lap of the weekend so far at Symmons Plains to end the final practice session atop the time sheets.

Tander’s penultimate flier of 51.07s saw the 2007 champion 0.09s quicker than Jamie Whincup, whose best time was set at just the 10 minute mark of the half hour session.

Will Davison and Jonathon Webb secured third and fourth respectively on their final fast laps, while Jason Bright and James Courtney rounded out the top six.

Courtney’s final run didn’t come without casualty however as the #22 Holden suffered a considerable left-front lock-up into Turn 6.

Lee Holdsworth was the star of proceedings in his Erebus Mercedes, ending up seventh, less than 0.23s from the pace.

The IRWIN-backed car made several trips across the Turn 7 exit grass as Holdsworth wrung everything from the underpowered E63.

Fabian Coulthard, Mark Winterbottom and David Reynolds filled eighth through 10th, with Craig Lowndes 11th after running off at Turn 2 and abandoning a run late in the going.

Fellow Adelaide race winner Shane van Gisbergen was also outside the top 10, ending the session 15th after complaining of traffic.

The session finished with Maro Engel’s SP Tools Mercedes stranded in the Turn 4 gravel trap as the chequered flag fell.

James Moffat was the best of the four Nissan Altimas in 19th after enjoying his first run on soft tyres for the weekend.

Team-mates Todd Kelly, Rick Kelly and Michael Caruso filled 23rd through 25th.

Less than one second separated the slowest runner, Jonny Reid, from Tander’s benchmark time, with all cars running softs.

The V8 Supercars will return to the track for qualifying at 1150 local time ahead of Race 3 of the championship at 1445.

See below for the Practice 4 result