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 |
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