Mostert dominates opening Bathurst practice

The Prodrive Racing Australia driver rocketed to the top when the times started to tumble half-way through the session, before cementing his position as pace-setter with a 2m06.322s on his final flying lap.

The time was good enough to leave him 1.05s clear of PRA team-mate David Reynolds.

“I felt real comfortable out there then, with that six-three,” said Mostert.

“It felt fast across the top, but the boys gave me a brilliant car. What we learnt last year, coming to this year the set-up we rolled out with is pretty close.”

Tekno Holden driver Shane van Gisbergen was third fastest, ahead of Nissan’s James Moffat and Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin.

The #888 entry was the best of the Red Bulls, Craig Lowndes ninth fastest despite a mid-session spin, while Will Davison was the best of the Erebus cars in 13th.

Holden Racing Team driver Garth Tander took the unwanted title of causing the first red flag of the weekend when he beached himself at the exit of Turn 1 six minutes in. The same corner then caught out Tim Blanchard, which caused a second red flag.

At the other end of the field, Simona De Silvestro was impressive despite being 27th and last. The V8 Supercar and Bathurst rookie completed 17 laps, with a best of 2m11.648s, less than a second slower than Blanchard in 26th.