Day one of Supercars Championship practice at round three of the 2019 season in Tasmania has been run and won, with the Red Bull Holden Racing Team on top of proceedings.
After a difficult opening few events, Jamie Whincup topped the first 30-minute session with a 0:50.7564 fastest lap. The seven-time champ's closest rival was Chaz Mostert, with van Gisbergen, McLaughlin, and David Reynolds in tow.
The second practice was topped once again by Whincup, with a quicker 0:50.508 — a new practice record for the 2.4km circuit. Van Gisbergen, a late lap from Reynolds, Mark Winterbottom, and James Courtney rounded out an all-Holden top five.
Particularly impressive was Todd Hazelwood, who finished practice two in ninth place just behind the two Shell V-Power Racing Mustangs.
The finishing order of practice two was particularly important, as it handed the top 10 an automatic passage into the second session of tomorrow's qualifying sessions. Among those to miss out on the leading 10 were Andre Heimgartner in 13th, and Cameron Waters in 20th. Recently crowned BNT V8s champion Jack Smith ended the day in 20th, on his wildcard debut in the series with Brad Jones Racing.
The Symmons Plains event represents the first meeting for the revised Ford Mustangs, which now feature approximately 50kg of extra weight in their rooflines as part of newly made centre of gravity parity changes. Various Mustang drivers were quizzed on the matter, including Mostert and McLaughlin, but each remained coy.
Both practice tests were eventful, with numerous offs at the end of the back straight in particular as the different drivers felt out the limits of their machinery.
The biggest moments were owned by Todd Hazelwood and Simona De Silvestro; the former flying off at the end of the long straight and aggressively through the sand, while the latter spun in spectacular fashion on the curved front straight — completing 180 degrees before correcting herself and driving away.
Qualifying kicks off tomorrow at 3.50pm NZDT, with the opening race of the weekend following at 6.40pm.
Practice 1 (top 10)
1. Jamie Whincup
2. Chaz Mostert
3. Shane van Gisbergen
4. Scott McLaughlin
5. David Reynolds
6. Lee Holdsworth
7. Will Davison
8. Scott Pye
9. Fabian Coulthard
10. Anton de Pasquale
Practice 2 (top 10)
1. Jamie Whincup
2. Shane van Gisbergen
3. David Reynolds
4. Mark Winterbottom
5. James Courtney
6. Chaz Mostert
7. Scott McLaughlin
8. Fabian Coulthard
9. Todd Hazelwood
10. Will Davison