Supercars: Erebus ends opening day on top at Bathurst

David Russell has completed an Erebus Motorsport practice sweep at Mount Panorama, topping Bathurst Practice 2 for Co-Drivers on Thursday.

Russell, who is sharing the #99 Coca-Cola Chevrolet with championship leader Brodie Kostecki, set the time sheets alight after an early red flag due to an incident for Dean Fiore.

The 2021 podium-finisher clocked a day-best 2:05.6826s to put a big margin on the field, with Penrite Racing veteran Garth Tander second.

For the second time in as many sessions, Erebus led Penrite Racing as Tander moved the #26 Ford to second in the final 10 minutes. Tander set the fastest time in the corresponding session last year, albeit with a 2:04.1359s.

Two late flyers for debutant Kai Allen, who moved the wildcard #98 Shell V-Power Ford to fourth at the death, ensured an even split of five Camaros and five Mustangs in the top 10.

The first of two Additional Drivers-only sessions was suspended early on after Brad Jones Racing co-driver Dean Fiore crashed the #14 Middy’s Electrical Chevrolet at Murray’s Corner.

Fiore, who is driving with Bryce Fullwood, locked up heading into the final corner and buried the pink Camaro into the tires.

After a 10-minute stoppage to retrieve the damaged car, Russell clocked a time better than Erebus stablemate Will Brown’s Practice 1 benchmark.

Russell led Richie Stanaway (#97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro), Jack Perkins (#9 Coca-Cola Camaro) and James Moffat (#6 Monster Energy Mustang) as the sun set over Bathurst, with times improving down the order.

Tander’s efforts featured a scare at The Esses, but the five-time Bathurst winner rebounded to keep Penrite Racing as the fastest Ford team on opening day.

Teenager Allen’s efforts, meanwhile, ensured the Shell V-Power Racing Team had all three Mustangs in the top 10, with Alex Davison (#17 Mustang) and Tony D’Alberto (#11 Mustang) seventh and eighth.

Triple Eight, meanwhile, had its three Camaros in the top six; Zane Goddard clocked a 2:06.7650s in the wildcard #888 Supercheap Auto Camaro, with Jamie Whincup sixth with a 2:06.7823s in Broc Feeney’s #88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro.

Stanaway set the early running in Shane van Gisbergen’s #97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro with a 2:08.0094s on his first lap, followed by a 2:06.3842s on his following lap.

Russell edged Stanaway’s time by 0.0062s after the stoppage, before moving the benchmark out of reach for the remainder of the afternoon.

It was a nervous afternoon for Garry Jacobson who, aboard Thomas Randle’s #55 Tickford Racing Mustang, scraped the wall exiting The Dipper before bowling a wide at Forrest’s Elbow.

Perkins and 2021 Bathurst 1000 winner Lee Holdsworth (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang) rounded out the top 10.

Brown pips rookie Payne in opening Bathurst 1000 practice

Toowoomba’s Will Brown (No. 9 Coca-Cola Chevrolet Camaro) led the opening practice session of the 2023 Repco Bathurst 1000 with a lap of 2.05.9653, in the first competitive outing for the Gen3 Supercars at Mount Panorama.

This weekend marks the 60^th anniversary of the Bathurst 1000, first held as a 500-mile enduro in 1963.

Tens of thousands of fans have already packed the Mountain ahead of the first day of on-track action at Bathurst, with throngs of campers arriving as early as last week.

Kiwi Matt Payne (No. 19 Penrite Ford Mustang) was just seven one-thousandths of a second behind 25-year old Brown in Practice 1, posting the second quickest lap of the session.

Brown’s teammate and championship leader Brodie Kostecki (No. 99 Coca-Cola Chevrolet Camaro) was third, with Ford stars Chaz Mostert (No. 25 Mobil 1 Optus Ford Mustang) and David Reynolds (No. 26 Penrite Ford Mustang) rounding out the top five.

Reigning Bathurst 1000 winner Shane van Gisbergen (No. 97 Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet Camaro) was only 15^th in the opening session, though many teams were known to be focusing on long runs rather than single-lap pace.

Practice 1 Results

Practice 2 (Co-Driver) Results