Ryan Simpson cemented his favouritsm for Round 4 of the Kumho V8 Touring Car Series by topping practice by a full second at Queensland Raceway.
The Sonic Motor Racing Services driver, who scored pole position on his series debut last time out at Winton, lapped in a best time of 1:12.78s during the late afternoon.
Dunlop Series team owner Matthew White recorded the second fastest time after emerging as a late addition to the grid due to regular MW Motorsport pilot Peter Rullo being called away with other commitments.
Young guns Morgan Haber (MW Motorsport) and Shae Davies (Fernandez Racing) made it a Ford sweep of the top four places, with Matthew Hansen the fastest Holden in fifth.
Formula 3 driver Jordan Skinner was also a late entrant, clocking the 13th quickest time in the THR-prepared Holden previously driven by Josh Kean, who is soon ot graduate to the Dunlop Series.
The Kumho Series is just one of eight classes on track as part of a bumper Shannons Nationals meeting this weekend.
The Mitsbubishi versus BMW battle expected to feature in the Australian Manufacturers’ Champion looks set to deliver a pair of interesting 200km races.
Garry Holt topped practice in the Lancer that he’ll share with Ryan McLeod; proving just 0.25s faster than 1M driver Beric Lynton.
Michael Almond proved a comfortably 0.56s faster than Richard Muscat in the GT3 Cup Challenge, which will this weekend feature the deciding race of the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy.
Elsewhere, Roger Lago proved his pace in two Australian GT practice sessions that also saw Greg Murphy speedy on his return to Jim Manolios’ Corvette.
Points leader Tim Macrow showed the way in the Formula 3 Australian Drivers’ Championship sessions, while Tony Ricciardello, Ben Grice and Kane Baxter-Smith showed the way in the Sports Sedans, Swifts and Saloon Cars respectively.