Supercars: De Pasquale and Davison go 1-2 in opening practice in NZ
Supercars drivers have returned to the track in New Zealand for the first time since 2019 today and it was Shell Ford’s Anton De Pasquale who was quickest in opening practice.
The session began with a minute’s silence in memory of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II with all drivers, team personal and fans paying standing to pay tribute.
it adds to what is already an emotional return to Pukekohe Park Raceway where a packed house full of kiwi fans is set to fill the venue when racing begins tomorrow.
Today, De Pasquale and his teammate Will Davison were quickest in opening practice ahead of kiwi Andre Heimgartner in the R&J Batteries BJR Commodore.
Fellow kiwi and defending Supercars’ Champion, Shane van Gisbergen was 4th quickest in his Red Bull Holden.
A huge crowd is expected to attend the last ever Supercars event at Pukekohe, the spiritual home of racing in New Zealand.
Van Gisbergen holds a convincing 500 point Repco Supercars Championship lead over Ford’s Cam Waters heading into this weekend’s three races.
This year marks the eighth time drivers will compete for the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy at Pukekohe since it was first introduced in 2013.
Only two drivers have won the trophy more than once: Jamie Whincup (2015 and 2017) and Shane van Gisbergen (2016 and 2019).
Brad Jones Racing will make its 700th ATCC/Supercars Championship start since its debut in the opening race of the 2000 season at Phillip Island, while the same race will also be Matt Stone Racing’s 150th since its first championship race as a wildcard at Queensland Raceway in 2017.
Friday Practice Results
| POS | NO. | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME | BEHIND | LAPS |
| 1 | 11 | A. de Pasquale | Shell V-Power Racing Team | 1:02.207 | +0.000 | 18 |
| 2 | 17 | Davison | Shell V-Power Racing Team | 1:02.456 | +0.250 | 16 |
| 3 | 8 | Heimgartner | Brad Jones Racing | 1:02.486 | +0.280 | 16 |
| 4 | 97 | Van Gisbergen | Red Bull Holden Racing Team | 1:02.593 | +0.387 | 15 |
| 5 | 50 | C. Waters | Tickford Racing 1 | 1:02.767 | +0.560 | 14 |
| 6 | 25 | Mostert | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 1:02.793 | +0.587 | 15 |
| 7 | 2 | Percat | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 1:02.890 | +0.683 | 16 |
| 8 | 96 | M. Jones | SCT Motor Sports | 1:02.898 | +0.692 | 17 |
| 9 | 10 | Holdsworth | Penrite Racing | 1:02.990 | +0.784 | 17 |
| 10 | 34 | J. Le Brocq | Matt Stone Racing | 1:03.022 | +0.815 | 19 |
| 11 | 88 | B. Feeney | Red Bull Holden Racing Team | 1:03.026 | +0.819 | 18 |
| 12 | 9 | W. Brown | Penrite Racing – Erebus | 1:03.037 | +0.830 | 14 |
| 13 | 3 | Slade | CoolDrive Racing | 1:03.044 | +0.837 | 16 |
| 14 | 26 | Reynolds | Penrite Racing | 1:03.113 | +0.906 | 15 |
| 15 | 20 | S. Pye | Team 18 | 1:03.145 | +0.939 | 13 |
| 16 | 55 | T. Randle | Tickford Racing 2 | 1:03.178 | +0.971 | 19 |
| 17 | 56 | J. Kostecki | Tickford Racing 2 | 1:03.196 | +0.990 | 16 |
| 18 | 31 | J. Golding | PremiAir Subway Racing | 1:03.215 | +1.008 | 19 |
| 19 | 18 | Winterbottom | Team 18 | 1:03.259 | +1.052 | 15 |
| 20 | 4 | J. Smith | SCT Motor Sports | 1:03.379 | +1.173 | 18 |
| 21 | 99 | B. Kostecki | Penrite Racing – Erebus | 1:03.396 | +1.190 | 19 |
| 22 | 5 | Courtney | Tickford Racing 1 | 1:03.480 | +1.273 | 14 |
| 23 | 35 | T. Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | 1:03.498 | +1.291 | 16 |
| 24 | 22 | C. Pither | PremiAir Coca Cola Racing | 1:03.508 | +1.301 | 22 |
| 25 | 14 | B. Fullwood | Brad Jones Racing | 1:03.645 | +1.439 | 21 |