Mark Winterbottom completed Ford Performance Racing’s strong build-up to qualifying at Bathurst by recording a 2:05.9s lap to top Practice 5.

The Pepsi Max Falcon driver laid down the benchmark after 30 of the session’s 50 minutes.

Initially 0.7s quicker than the field, the time withstood a barrage of late flyers as the field completed their qualifying simulation runs.

Winterbottom himself got closest to going faster, clocking 2:06.0s on his last run after another set-up change.

A 2:06.1s for Scott McLaughlin after the chequered flag put the Volvo second ahead of Jamie Whincup’s Holden and Winterbottom’s FPR stable-mates David Reynolds and Chaz Mostert.

“It’s pretty cool to be the first bloke to do a 2:05s, but this afternoon we’re going to go quicker when it cools down,” said Winterbottom.

“It’s awesome to be quick, but unfortunately that’s only practice, so we’ll tune it up and go again.

“The car rolled out of the truck well but the track keeps changing, so we’ve got to keep tinkering away.”

McLaughlin survived a wild off through McPhillamy Park early in the session that saw the Volvo skip through the sand trap and narrowly avoid the concrete wall.

Michael Caruso continued Nissan’s improved showing with sixth ahead of Fabian Coulthard, Jason Bright, Shane van Gisbergen and James Moffat.

Van Gisbergen endured a dicey encounter of his own, grazing the concrete at The Cutting in the early going, but continuing largely unhindered.

The session was punctured by a single red flag, called early for Todd Kelly’s Nissan, which had stopped at McPhillamy Park.

Kelly was able to drive the Altima back to the garage under its own power, before rejoining the session soon after.

Qualifying is scheduled to get underway at 1500 local time, setting the grid for Saturday’s Top 10 Shootout.

Result: V8 Supercars Practice 5, Bathurst

1

Ford Pepsi Max Crew

Mark Winterbottom

Ford Falcon FG

02:05.90

2

Valvoline Racing GRM

Scott McLaughlin

Volvo S60

02:06.15

00:00.25

3

Red Bull Racing Australia

Jamie Whincup

Holden Commodore VF

02:06.17

00:00.27

4

The Bottle-O Racing Team

David Reynolds

Ford Falcon FG

02:06.22

00:00.31

5

Ford Pepsi Max Crew

Chaz Mostert

Ford Falcon FG

02:06.38

00:00.48

6

Norton Hornets

Michael Caruso

Nissan Altima

02:06.46

00:00.56

7

Lockwood Racing

Fabian Coulthard

Holden Commodore VF

02:06.49

00:00.58

8

Team BOC

Jason Bright

Holden Commodore VF

02:06.58

00:00.68

9

Team Tekno VIP Petfoods

Shane Van Gisbergen

Holden Commodore VF

02:06.72

00:00.82

10

Norton Hornets

James Moffat

Nissan Altima

02:06.79

00:00.89

11

Red Bull Racing Australia

Craig Lowndes

Holden Commodore VF

02:06.84

00:00.94

12

Holden Racing Team

James Courtney

Holden Commodore VF

02:06.89

00:00.99

13

Jack Daniel's Racing

Rick Kelly

Nissan Altima

02:07.03

00:01.13

14

Wilson Security Racing

Scott Pye

Ford Falcon FG

02:07.05

00:01.14

15

Holden Racing Team

Garth Tander

Holden Commodore VF

02:07.11

00:01.21

16

Team Advam/GB

Dale Wood

Holden Commodore VF

02:07.13

00:01.23

17

Jack Daniel's Racing

Todd Kelly

Nissan Altima

02:07.16

00:01.26

18

Team JELD-WEN

Jack Perkins

Ford Falcon FG

02:07.18

00:01.28

19

Walkinshaw Racing

Nick Percat

Holden Commodore VF

02:07.25

00:01.35

20

Supercheap Auto Racing

Tim Slade

Holden Commodore VF

02:07.52

00:01.62

21

Repair Management Aust Racing

R.Ingall/T.Blanchard

Holden Commodore VF

02:07.62

00:01.71

22

Erebus Team Beko

Will Davison

Mercedes E63 AMG

02:07.81

00:01.90

23

Erebus Motorsport V8

Lee Holdsworth

Mercedes E63 AMG

02:08.02

00:02.12

24

Wilson Security Racing

David Wall

Ford Falcon FG

02:08.30

00:02.40

25

Valvoline Racing GRM

R.Dahlgren/G.Ritter

Volvo S60

02:08.32

00:02.42

26

Super Black Racing

A.Pedersen/A.Heimgartner

Ford Falcon FG

02:08.76

00:02.86