Vaughan and McLeod top tight Dunlop practice
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 28 April 2023
Brad Vaughan is the early Dunlop Series pacesetter of the Perth SuperSprint after leading a tight opening practice.
The #5 Tickford Racing driver’s 55.9109s lap was the best of the 40-minute session by just 0.030s ahead of Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Ryan Wood.
Not only was the gap close at the top, but less than half a second separated the top 12 cars.
Cameron Crick was the first to enjoy a lengthy period in P1 lapping a 56.6107s time.
He was then eclipsed by Eggleston Motorsport teammate Kai Allen by 0.06s as the track showed speed from the get-go.
Wood initially led a WAU 1-2 before Aaron Love split the pair in second.
Wood was the first driver to lap a 55s lap, two tenths clear of the Blanchard Racing Team Mustang before Vaughan came within 0.07s from the top.
Tickford’s Vaughan eventually not only joined Wood in the 55s window, but jumped to P1 by just 0.03s and stayed there for the entire second half of the session.
It was not a trouble free session for Vaughan however, with the #5 Mustang locking the inside front right and spearing into the sand at the final corner.
Matt Chahda started his 50th Super2 round with a P14, but was on a solid lap only to have his time was deleted due to a track limits breach.
Eggleston Motorsport teammates Allen and Cooper Murray got plenty of track time recording 35 and 34 laps respectively, easily the most in the field.
Super3
Cameron McLeod was the undisputed Super3 leader in first Perth practice. Image: Mark Horsburgh
Cameron McLeod has started the second Super3 round at Perth in ominous fashion by being the clear leader in practice.
McLeod’s impressive 56.5138 time was enough for 13th overall and was half a second better than his nearest rival Mason Kelly.
Jobe Stewart followed Kelly closely in third, while Matt Stone Racing veteran Jason Gomersall recorded the most Super3 laps with 32.
Matthew McCutcheon was the only car in the entire Dunlop Series field not to set an early flying lap with the team busy under the bonnet fixing a power steering pump failure.
He eventually still managed a top-five Super3 result having got just 12 laps under his belt.
Jett Johnson as early Super3 leader before championship leaders Stewart and McLeod showed their hand.
After Stewart led initially, Kelly and then McLeod went even faster. The #92 Ryan McLeod Racing Cars driver went two tenths clear of Kelly, being the only Super3 driver in the 56s window.
McLeod continued to improve his pace to be in a league of his own after the opening session.
The second Dunlop Series practice session takes place at 15.25 AEST.
Dunlop Series Practice 1 results
1 Brad Vaughan 55.910
2 Ryan Wood +0.030
3 Zak Best +0.172
4 Aaron Love +0.243
5 Zach Bates +0.273
6 Cooper Murray +0.399
7 Kai Allen +0.412
8 Jay Hanson +0.446
9 Aaron Seton +0.453
10 Lachlan Dalton +0.458
11 Cameron Crick +0.480
12 Jack Perkins +0.595
13 Cameron McLeod +0.602
14 Matt Chahda +0.606
15 Zane Morse +0.760
16 Jordan Sinni +0.978
17 Mason Kelly +1.097
18 Jobe Stewart +1.204
19 Callum Walker +1.212
20 Nash Morris +1.344
21 Elly Morrow +1.432
22 Jett Johnson +1.508
23 James Masterton +1.868
24 Matthew McCutcheon +1.870
25 Ryan Gilroy +2.030
26 Jason Gomersall +2.444
27 Chris Smerdon +3.416
Download the full Supercars Perth Round 3 Event Guide with track stats and facts and a full event schedule, plus our extensive driver profiles here
Perth SuperSprint Schedule, April 28-30, (all times AEST)
Friday
Practice (90 Minutes) – 16.25 – 17.55
Saturday
Qualifying (Race 7) – 13.10 – 14.05
Race 7 (42 laps) – 17.45 – 18.45
Sunday
Qualifying (Race 8) – 11.15 – 11.30
Qualifying (Race 9) – 11.40 – 11.55
Race 8 (42 laps) – 13.45 – 14.45
Race 9 (42 laps) – 17.45 – 18.45
For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport
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