Mostert fastest as Slade, Rullo crash in Practice 1

Chaz Mostert topped the times in a crash strewn opening practice session for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

The Prodrive Racing Australia driver clocked a 2:06.30s effort in the final moments of the 60 minute session.

Mostert shot to the top of the times prior to the first of two red flag periods, which was caused by Brad Jones Racing’s Tim Slade.

The South Australian lost the rear of his Holden resulting in him finding the barriers at the Esses, before a secondary impact in the the wall at The Dipper.

THE FINAL RACE OF THE 2023 REPCO SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP ON ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST STREET CIRCUITS.
GO ALL IN AT THE VAILO ADELAIDE 500, CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

The session was halted just prior to the halfway mark before a further stoppage in the final 20 minutes, when Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport’s Alex Rullo found the wall at Forrest’s Elbow, which resulted in damage to the front right of the Holden.

A flurry of fast times merged in the final 10 minutes when action resumed.

Mostert was among a group to improve as he posted his benchmark time that was four tenths slower than the pace set in opening practice last year.

Triple Eight’s Craig Lowndes shot to second late on with the six-time Bathurst winner 0.06s shy of Mostert.

Todd Kelly was third after recovering from an oil leak earlier in the session with the Nissan driver ahead of Shell V-Power Racing’s Fabian Coulthard and Nissan team-mate Michael Caruso.

Coulthard and Caruso both enjoyed spells at the top of the times.

Sandown 500 winner Cameron Waters moved to sixth following a late run on green tyres.

Championship leader Scott McLaughlin claimed seventh ahead of Erebus Motorsport’s David Reynolds, who had a brief spin early in the running.

Rick Kelly finished the session ninth after recovering from an issue that saw smoke fill the cabin in the opening minutes.

Red Bull Holden Racing Team’s Jamie Whincup rounded out the top 10, while team-mate Shane van Gisbergen could only manage a time good enough for 23rd position.

Garth Tander was left to settle for 11th having top the times early in the session, while Mark Winterbottom (Prodrive) was 16th spot.

Supercars co-drivers will jump behind the wheel for the next 60 minute practice session at 1235 local time.

VIDEO: Practice 1 highlights

Results: Virgin Australian Supercars Championship Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 Practice 1

1	55	Supercheap Auto Racing	Chaz Mostert	Ford Falcon FG/X	2:06.3033
2	888	TeamVortex	Craig Lowndes	Holden Commodore VF	2:06.3647	0.0614
3	20	carsales Racing	Todd Kelly	Nissan Altima	2:06.5264	0.2231
4	12	Shell V-Power Racing Team	Fabian Coulthard	Ford Falcon FG/X	2:06.6051	0.3018
5	23	Nissan Motorsport	M.Caruso/D.Fiore	Nissan Altima	2:06.6265	0.3232
6	6	Monster Energy Racing	Cameron Waters	Ford Falcon FG/X	2:06.6286	0.3253
7	17	Shell V-Power Racing Team	Scott McLaughlin	Ford Falcon FG/X	2:06.7452	0.4419
8	9	Erebus Penrite Racing	David Reynolds	Holden Commodore VF	2:06.7718	0.4685
9	15	Sengled Racing	Rick Kelly	Nissan Altima	2:06.7720	0.4687
10	88	Red Bull Holden Racing Aust	Jamie Whincup	Holden Commodore VF	2:06.7822	0.4789
11	33	Wilson Security Racing GRM	G.Tander/J.Golding	Holden Commodore VF	2:06.7832	0.4799
12	8	Brad Jones Racing	Nick Percat	Holden Commodore VF	2:06.9421	0.6388
13	56	MEGA Racing	Jason Bright	Ford Falcon FG/X	2:07.0891	0.7858
14	14	Freightliner Racing	Tim Slade	Holden Commodore VF	2:07.0950	0.7917
15	34	Wilson Security Racing GRM	J.Moffat/R.Muscat	Holden Commodore VF	2:07.2899	0.9866
16	5	The Bottle-O Racing Team	M.Winterbottom/D.Canto	Ford Falcon FG/X	2:07.3572	1.0539
17	18	Preston Hire Racing	Lee Holdsworth	Holden Commodore VF	2:07.3992	1.0959
18	19	TEKNO Woodstock Racing	Will Davison	Holden Commodore VF	2:07.4176	1.1143
19	99	Erebus GB Galvanizing Racing	Dale Wood	Holden Commodore VF	2:07.4553	1.1520
20	02	Mobil 1 HSV Racing	S.Pye/W.Luff	Holden Commodore VF	2:07.6645	1.3612
21	21	Team CoolDrive	Tim Blanchard	Holden Commodore VF	2:07.6976	1.3943
22	22	Mobil 1 HSV Racing	J.Courtney/J.Perkins	Holden Commodore VF	2:07.7792	1.4759
23	97	Red Bull Holden Racing Aust	Shane Van Gisbergen	Holden Commodore VF	2:07.8462	1.5429
24	3	Plus Fitness Racing	Aaren Russell	Holden Commodore VF	2:08.1533	1.8500
25	78	Team Harvey Norman	Simona De Silvestro	Nissan Altima	2:08.9650	2.6617
26	62	Repair Management Aust Racing	Alex Rullo	Holden Commodore VF	2:09.7032	3.3999