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MOSTERT FASTEST ON FRIDAY

Chaz Mostert fastest of Friday - Image: InSyde Media

By Bruce Williams

Chaz Mostert fastest of Friday - Image: InSyde Media

Chaz Mostert fastest of Friday – Image: InSyde Media

Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert has led the way in Friday practice ahead of the Bathurst 500 this weekend.

Mostert backed up his top of the timesheets lap in the opening session by pipping former teammate Cam Waters in final practice by 0.011s.

The 2014 Bathurst 1000 winner set a 2m 04.781s to lead Waters and Scott Pye, who led for most of the session after setting back-to-back fastest laps, ending with a 2m 05.389s.

Tim Slade ended a positive opening day for the Blanchard Racing Team in fifth ahead of James Courtney, Brodie Kostcki, Bryce Fullwood, Shane van Gisbergen, Anton De Pasquale and Mark Winterbottom.

Van Gisbergen went off at The Chase on his fast lap.

This afternoon’s session was halted early by a red flag to collect the stricken Brad Jones Racing Holden Commodores of Todd Hazelwood and Macauley Jones.

An oil hose disconnected, leaving a plume of white smoke pouring from Hazelwood’s Holden Commodore, whilst Jones ran wide at The Chase and ended in the gravel trap.

In opening practice Mostert set a 2m 05.205s in the final minute to again lead Waters, who also completed a last gasp lap.

Waters was 0.449s behind, while Mostert’s current Walkinshaw Andretti Motorsport stablemate Bryce Fullwood continued the team’s promising form to finish the session third.

Jamie Whincup finished the session fourth leading Kelly Grove Racing’s Andre Heimgartner, Scott Pye, Tim Slade, Anton De Pasquale, James Courtney and David Reynolds.

Shane van Gisbergen led for the majority of the session, but elected not to fit green tyres at the conclusion and finished the session 12th.

Jake Kostecki was an early visitor to the pits due to an engine malady with a flat engine, but this was fixed for the second session.

Another to experience misfortune was full-time debutant Will Brown, who crashed at The Dipper after clipping the inside wall. Placed third at the time, Brown ended the session 15th and his Erebus Motorsport Holden Commodore is expected to be repaired in time for qualifying tomorrow.

CEO Barry Ryan declared the team will work an all-nighter to get the Commodore repaired.

Others including Jack Le Brocq, James Courtney and Jones ran wide at The Chase, but emerged unscathed.

Tomorrow’s action begins with qualifying at 9:05am.

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