Ginetta tops Australian GT Phillip Island practice

The Ginetta driven by Matt Campbell and Michael Hovey emerged quickest in practice for the Australian GT Championship Phillip Island 101.

The Campbell/Hovey V8-powered Ginetta G55 posted the fastest time of the day in the second of three 20 minute practice sessions held at the Victorian circuit.

A best effort of 1:28.5697s proved to be just 0.01s quicker than the Superbarn Supermarkets Porsche 997 GT3-R of Marcus Marshall and James Koundouris.

The Andrew Taplin/Dean Canto Aston Martin was third fastest overall as they posted their best lap in the final session.

Holden Racing Team driver Garth Tander and Tony Quinn were fourth quickest in the Darrell Lea backed McLaren 650S.

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Trass Family Motorsport held fifth spot despite its newly built Ferrari 458 GT3 for Kiwi duo Jono Lester and Graeme Smyth only arriving in the country on Wednesday.

Sixth spot belonged to the Vicious Rumour Racing Ferrari of Tony DeFelice and former F1 driver Andrea Montermini.

Maranello Motorsport’s #88 ran for the first time since February’s Bathurst 12 Hour with Tony D’Alberto and Grant Denyer’s Ferrari 458 in seventh.

The DPM Motorsport Reiter Camaro endured a day of mixed fortunes with Steven Richards posting a time good enough for eighth, before a crash from co-driver Dale Paterson in Practice 2 ended their Friday prematurely.

The Jamec Pem Audi R8s rounded out the top 10 with Nurburgring 24 Hour winner Chris Mies and Greg Crick pipping Steve McLaughlan and Steven Johnson.

Two 15 minute qualifying sessions will determine the grid ahead of a 101 lap endurance race on Saturday afternoon.

The re-built HSV GTS of Jim Pollicina and Dean Lillie topped the official Australian Manufacturers Championship practice session this afternoon as the favoured Mitsubishi Lancer EVO crashed heavily.

The 6.2-litre V8 HSV was a full 1.2 seconds quicker than Beric Lynton and Matt Mackelden’s BMW 1M.

Bob Pearson crashed his ProDuct Mitsubishi during practice three earlier in the day. The car made heavy contact with the wall, but it is expected to be repaired in time for qualifying.

Meanwhile, William Brown topped the times in Australian Formula Ford Series, while Jon Collins headed the Australian Formula 3 Championship.