Bathurst 12 Hour: Bentley ends Day 1 fastest

The fourth and final session got off to a flying start when Phoenix Audi driver Laurens Vanthoor went straight under the 2m04s barrier with a 2m03.906s lap.

Within 15 minutes the benchmark was lowered again, Katsumasa Chiyo setting what to that point was the fastest lap of the day with a 2m03.465s in the Nissan GT-R.

But that time didn’t last long either, Will Davison going faster again with a 2m03.303s in the Tekno McLaren with an hour of the session remaining.

While Davison’s time did hold up until the latter stages of the 90-minute session, it wasn’t quite enough to take top spot. With 10 minutes to go, Bentley driver Steven Kane scorched to the top with a 2m03.233, earning bragging rights for Day 1.

The Tekno McLaren wound up second, while the Phoenix Audi improved to a 2m03.396s to finish the day third fastest.

Chiyo’s time was good enough to leave the Nissan fourth at the end of the session, with the #74 Jamec Pem Audi in fifth.

The session was stopped only once, the red flag flying when Paul Tressider stranded his Porsche just past The Cutting. The car still topped Class B, perhaps thanks to the Grove Racing Porsche team opting to sit out the session.

Class I was once again led by the Daytona Sportscar Coupe.