Bathurst 12 Hour: Objective McLaren breaks practice record

The pace was hot right from the word go, #36 Erebus Mercedes driver Nico Bastian charging to a 2m03.332s straight away, soon joined in the low-to-mid 2m03s by Rob Bell (#60 Tekno McLaren) and Maro Engel (#63 Erebus Mercedes).

Just under 20 minutes in, Bell lowered the benchmark even more, going fastest with a 2m03.135s.

But it was six minutes later that the game changed completely; Engel not only became the first man to go under 2m03s for the weekend, but went seven-tenths clear of the field with a mega 2m02.391s – two-tenths faster than last year’s pole-winning time.

It took 20 minutes for anyone else to get under 2m03s, Shane van Gisbergen (#59 Tekno McLaren) eventually joining the club with a 2m02.942s a little under 15mins from the end.

With eight minutes to go Rene Rast (#75 Jamec Pem Audi) got in on the act as well, going second fastest with a 2m02.440s – before Matt Campbell made history in the Objective Racing McLaren with a record-breaking 2m02.287s, the fastest ever officially timed lap at Mount Panorama.

Van Gisbergen finished the session fourth fastest, Christopher Haase fifth in the #74 Jamec Pem Audi, while the #60 Tekno car wound up sixth.

Class B was comfortably led by the #4 Grove Porsche, with the #93 MARC Mazda taking Class I honours.

Qualifying for the Bathurst 12 Hour kicks off at 12:55 local time.

Practice results