Townsville supports: Heinrich wins opener, Owen takes historic pole
It was a busy day on the streets of Townsville with Aussie Racing Cars getting the first race on the board, plus the Toyotas and Porsches also laying down rubber.
Aussie Racing Cars championship leader Joel Heinrich has started his Townsville assault in ominous form.
The #1 took P1 in dominant style in qualifying with the 1:23.2394 a massive hard a second clear of Mason Harvey and Scott Dornan, who had a close battle for second best.
Off the line Heinrich retained his advantage, while Kody Garland shot from fifth to second ahead of Harvey.
Soon Cody Brewczynski was on a mission and picked off some rivals to rise to fourth and forced Kent Quinn to the lane after his front clip popped up.
Title contender Reece Chapman’s tough weekend went from bad to worse.
After qualifying 10th, he stopped on the front straight and was the first to retire after just two laps.
Four laps later he was joined by his father Chad on the sidelines, while Jeff Watters and Shane Mann survived a spin.
The fight for the lead amped up as Garland had a crack at the heavy-braking Turn 2, but failed.
He ran too wide which allowed Heinrich to perform the switchback.
The moment soon brought Harvey into play and an exciting battle brewed on the final lap.
Brock Gilchrist was fast in the Porsches. Image: Supplied
But there was no stopping Heinrich as he won by four tenths to extend his points lead.
A second serve of Aussie Racing Cars is at 11.30 tomorrow which will be their only race of the day.
It was a historic day in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia GR Cup with the new generation of cars gracing the track at a race weekend for the first time.
Brock Stinson had the honour of topping a tight opening practice with a 1:28.3708.
Just 0.0639s was the difference ahead of Clay Richards and Lachlan Gibbons.
Come practice 2 Matt Hillyer had the pace for WAU and led by the more convincing margin of two tenths over the experienced Jayden Ojeda.
But it will be young Queenslander Bradi Owen who will have the honour of starting the new era from pole.
Only two cars were fast enough to get into the 1m27s window with Owen emerging a tenth and a half clear.
His 1:27.8356 was too much for James Lodge, while Hillyer and Ojeda had to settle for the second row.
Supercars star Fabian Coulthard could only manage 22nd. The first race of the 2024 TGRA GR Cup is at 8.45 AEST with another sprint following at 12.45.
It was also a big day for the Porsche Sprint Challenge which made its street circuit debut at Townsville.
The likes of Nash Morris and Brock Gilchrist showed strong pace and loom as the favourites heading into early morning qualifying.
There was nothing in it from the start as Morris’ 1:15.4042 proved just enough as he edged out Oscar Targett and Gilchrist by half a tenth.
The pace stepped up by a full second in Practice 2 with Gilchrist well in front.
His 1:14.4746 was the fastest time of the day leaving Morris a full two tenths back in second.
Targett kept up his form in third as Ayrton Hodson and Caleb Sumich completed the top five. Top Am was Brett Boulton.
Qualifying kicks Saturday off at Townsville at 8.05 AEST.
Supercars Townsville 500 schedule
Friday, July 5
Practice 1: 1: C. Waters 1:13.9603 2: T. Randle +0.1206 3: W. Brown +0.2019
Practice 2: 1: C. Waters 1:13.8376 2: J. Le Brocq +0.0590 3: M. Winterbottom +0.2946
Saturday, July 6
10.15-10.30: Race 13 Qualifying
12.05-12.35: Top 10 Shootout
14.40-16.48: Race 13 88 laps
Sunday, July 7
10.05-10.20: Race 14 Qualifying
12.05-12.35: Top 10 Shootout
14.40-16.48: Race 13 88 laps
