Jamie Whincup reset the Pukekohe practice lap record to edge out local hero Fabian Coulthard in the day’s third and final session.
The final half hour of running ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying saw Whincup jump to the top on 1:02.12s with just under five minutes remaining.
Coulthard, Mark Winterbottom and Shane van Gisbergen all took turns at knocking off the six-time champion before the flag, each falling short by less than a tenth of a second.
James Courtney ended up fifth ahead of Will Davison, David Reynolds, Garth Tander, Jason Bright and Scott Pye.
Dirt being dragged onto the track by kerb-hungry drivers again made for treacherous conditions through the Turn 2, 3 and 4 complex.
James Moffat spun rearwards into the tyres during the early stages, while Chaz Mostert also clouted the barriers in the final minutes.
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Mostert’s incident occurred despite the red flags having been called with eight minutes remaining to clear debris from the circuit.
Moffat’s team-mate Scott McLaughlin ended up down the order after a session interrupted by a broken front anti-rollbar.
He returned to the track in the final minutes but managed just 17th after running wide at the final corner.
The Supercars will return to the track tomorrow morning for a pair of 10 minute qualifying sessions to set the grid for Races 24 and 25.
Result: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship ITM Auckland Super Sprint Practice 3
| 1 | Red Bull Racing Australia | Jamie Whincup | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.11 | |
| 2 | DJR Team Penske | Fabian Coulthard | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:02.14 | 00.03 |
| 3 | The Bottle-O Racing Team | Mark Winterbottom | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:02.18 | 00.06 |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing Australia | Shane Van Gisbergen | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.20 | 00.08 |
| 5 | Holden Racing Team | James Courtney | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.30 | 00.18 |
| 6 | Team Darrell Lea STIX | Will Davison | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.32 | 00.20 |
| 7 | Erebus Motorsport Penrite | David Reynolds | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.35 | 00.24 |
| 8 | Holden Racing Team | Garth Tander | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.37 | 00.25 |
| 9 | Team BOC | Jason Bright | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.38 | 00.26 |
| 10 | DJR Team Penske | Scott Pye | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:02.42 | 00.30 |
| 11 | Sengled Racing | Rick Kelly | Nissan Altima | 1:02.43 | 00.32 |
| 12 | TeamVortex | Craig Lowndes | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.58 | 00.46 |
| 13 | Preston Hire Racing | Lee Holdsworth | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.59 | 00.48 |
| 14 | Supercheap Auto Racing | Chaz Mostert | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:02.63 | 00.51 |
| 15 | Clipsal 500 Adelaide Racin | Nick Percat | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.66 | 00.54 |
| 16 | Nissan Motorsport | Michael Caruso | Nissan Altima | 1:02.81 | 00.69 |
| 17 | Wilson Security Racing GRM | James Moffat | Volvo S60 | 1:02.81 | 00.69 |
| 18 | Monster Energy Racing | Cameron Waters | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:02.85 | 00.73 |
| 19 | Wilson Security Racing GRM | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo S60 | 1:02.86 | 00.74 |
| 20 | carsales Racing | Todd Kelly | Nissan Altima | 1:02.91 | 00.79 |
| 21 | Freightliner Racing | Tim Slade | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.93 | 00.82 |
| 22 | Plus Fitness Racing | Andre Heimgartner | Holden Commodore VF | 1:02.99 | 00.87 |
| 23 | Super Black Racing | Chris Pither | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:03.03 | 00.91 |
| 24 | Team Cooldrive | Tim Blanchard | Holden Commodore VF | 1:03.08 | 00.96 |
| 25 | Erebus Motorsport | Shae Davies | Holden Commodore VF | 1:03.32 | 01.20 |
| 26 | GB Galvanizing Racing | Dale Wood | Nissan Altima | 1:03.54 | 01.42 |
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