Supercheap Austo Racing's Chaz Mostert set a new lap record at Queensland Raceway to claim the fastest time in Friday practice ahead of this weekend's Ipswich Super Sprint.
Mostert, at his home track, impressed in the final hit out on day one following on from his consistent run in the earlier session.
“It was a challenging day to find a set-up that worked but we clearly got there with Chaz given he set a new lap record which is encouraging for everyone. It is going to be a close qualifying session so to know we are in the hunt is what we need at this stage,” said Prodrive's Tim Edwards.
In the final minutes of the session, times fell dramatically with Scotty McLaughlin, who was quickest in the opening practice session and holding firm to in P1 when the final lap frenzy began, dropped all the way to tenth by the time the checkered flag fell.
Second overall was McLaughlin's teammate, Fabian Coulthard with reigning series champion, Shane van Gisbergen in third.
Rick Kelly, David Reynolds, Mark Winterbottom, Craig Lowndes, Lee Holdsworth, Cameron Waters and McLaughlin rounded out the top ten.
It was a horrid session for Jamie Whincup, the Red Bull Holden racer finishing the day in P20 after failing to get a clean run.
“We didn't get a clean run so I don't think we showed what we had,” he said. “The car wasn't that flash, but there's no panic stations. We'll make the car better tomorrow and I'm confident we should be somewhere there.”
