Jones puts speedy SpongeBob on top 

For the first time in 2024, Triple Eight has been beaten and Macauley Jones was the unlikely driver to do so after he topped first practice at Albert Park.

The new SpongeBob livery proved speedy for Jones, who made the most of a second green tyre run by posting a 1:47.6167.

It was just enough to edge ahead of Matt Payne and Cam Waters, who were both just half a tenth away and were fast throughout along with the likes of Nick Percat and Chaz Mostert.

Percat was fourth fastest, whilst rookie Jaxon Evans took an impressive fifth.

The 30-minute session kicked off a busy day for Supercars being the first of five Thursday on track sessions.

Drivers used the time to come to grips with life on the soft tyre and the high speed street circuit under cool, but beautiful conditions.

Percat first to set a proper lap in anger 1:48.4636 before Mostert lowered the mark to a 1:48.1447.

This remained the fastest lap of all the early runs with Waters just half a tenth away and Payne two tenths off to form a Mustang 1-2-3.

Percat remained the leading Camaro ahead of Winterbottom and Brown, who was the first off at turn 1.

Wood would follow the #87’s wheel tracks at the start of his second run, losing the rear slightly.

At the halfway mark of the session there was an even slit of Camaros and Mustangs in the top 10.

Waters fired to the top on his sixth lap but was immediately bested by Percat, who registered a 1:48.0263.

But again Mostert had the final say, setting a fastest first sector on his way to edging ahead of Percat by 0.04s.

The #25 WAU driver was the first to record a 1m47s lap time at the 17 minute mark.

Whilst Mostert chased one-lap pace, others such as Triple Eight took the opportunity to do long runs.

Mostert’s time at the top lasted until just three minutes were left on the clock as Percat was the first to maximise the happy hour runs.

The Matt Stone Racing driver was three tenths clear of Mostert but was immediately edged out by Waters and Payne.

Waters was just 0.06s ahead of Percat, whilst the gap between Payne and the Monster Mustang was even tighter.

Mustangs filled five of the top six spots before the Camaros started showing some speed with Heimgartner and Hazelwood shooting into the mix.

But it was Jones who stunned pit lane, by going half a tenth clear of Payne.

He was one of a host of drivers who made up big gains by doing a second fresh tyre run towards the end of the session.

Winterbottom found the limit by running wide and whacking the wall on the exit of the fast turn 8.

Jones emerged on top, beating fast Fords Payne and waters, while thanks to Evans and Heimgartner there were three BJR cars in the top 10.

Waters probably showed the most ominous speed, being towards the top throughout and set his fastest time on used tyres.

Supercars will return for a second and final practice session at 13.25 AEDT.

Image: Rebecca Hind/Revved Photography

Supercars Melbourne SuperSprint Practice 1 results

Supercars Australian Grand Prix schedule

Thursday, March 21

Practice 1: 11.25-11.55

Practice 2: 13.25-13.55

Qualifying R3: 15.10-15.25

Qualifying R4: 15.35-15.50

Race 3 (20 laps): 17.50-18.35

Friday, March 22

Race 4 (20 laps): 14.50-15.35

Saturday, March 23

Qualifying R5: 09.00-09.15

Qualifying R6: 09.25-09.40

Race 5 (14 laps): 17.35-18.10

Sunday, March 24

Race 6 (14 laps): 10.20-10.55

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