JAMIE WHINCUP SETS THE PACE IN DARWIN

Jamie Whincup sets the pace in Darwin – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

RECENT TESTING at Queensland Raceway by the Virgin Australian Supercar Championship heavyweights have proved fruitful on the first day of the CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown at Hidden Valley.

Red Bull Holden Racing Australia’s Jamie Whincup (Commodore VF) was fastest overall with a best of 1 minute 6.0360 seconds, marginally slower than the practice best set last year by stable mate Craig Lowndes.

“The car was good today, I am happy with that,” said Whincup.

Scott McLaughlin was second fastest for DJR Team Penske – Photo: Rhys Vandersyde

Second fastest today was Scott McLaughlin in his Shell V-Power Team Penske/DJR Ford Falcon FG/X while Lowndes (Team Vortex Holden Commodore VF) was third quickest. Just 0.0436 seconds covered the top three.

Less than four tenths of a second split first from tenth where Scott Pye (VF) for Mobil 1 HSV Racing was fourth overall ahead of David Reynolds (Erebus Penrite), Nick Percat (Brad Jones Racing Holden), James Moffat (Wilson Security GRM), Tim Slade (BJR Freightliner), Shane Van Gisbergen (Red Bull Racing Australia) and Will Davison (Techno Woodstock).

Behind Lee Holdsworth (Preston Hire) was the second best of the Fords was Mark Winterbottom in 12th, just in front of the Falcons of Fabian Coulthard, Chaz Mostert, Rick Kelly (Nissan Altima) and Cameron Waters.

Kelly was the fastest in session one while was red flagged five minutes from the end when Jason Bright backed his Falcon in the tyre barrier at turn 11.

This round also features Wildcard entries from the Dunlop Super2 series with Jack Le Brocq (GoGetta Altima) and Macauley Jones (BJR Drillpro VF) 27th and 28th, and a little over a second of the fastest cars.

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