BY JOANNA GUELAS for AAP
BATHURST, NSW. — Chaz Mostert has bounced back from a horror start to the Bathurst 1000, going fastest in the final practice session before qualifying.
A day after crashing his car at Mount Panorama, Mostert found redemption on Friday by knocking off defending champion Brodie Kostecki with a lap time of two minutes 4.659 seconds.
Walkinshaw Andretti United star Mostert had slammed into the tyre barrier at the top of Mountain Straight after locking up the front right wheel of his Ford Mustang during Thursday’s opening practice.
Mostert will look to spoil Dick Johnson Racing’s Kostecki party again when qualifying for provisional pole gets underway at 4.10pm (AEDT).
Kostecki has started at the top of the Bathurst 1000 grid since 2023 and will join legendary duo Allan Moffat and Peter Brock in the history books if he claims three consecutive pole positions.
He finished third during practice, after Matt Stone Racing’s Nick Percat pipped him by 0.075 seconds with a last-gasp effort.
In Friday’s first practice session, Supercars championship leader Broc Feeney was the last car to cross the finish line, but became the first to clock a time under two minutes five seconds.
The 22-year-old, managing a sore back, expertly navigated the track to set a lap time of two minutes 4.976 seconds.
Walkinshaw Andretti United rival Ryan Wood – fast shaping as a dark horse – was second, with fellow Triple Eight driver Will Brown third.
New Zealand’s Wood and co-driver Jayden Ojeda had kicked off the weekend by finishing fastest in first practice on Thursday.
Feeney’s teammate Brown is also managing a separate injury, having rolled his left ankle after playing touch football on the weekend.
The entire grid ran out at Mount Panorama after two late casualties from Thursday were repaired in time.
Team 18 worked overnight to have Anton De Pasquale’s No.18 car back on track after co-driver Harri Jones crashed into the concrete wall at The Chase.
Matt Stone Racing driver Cam Hill also participated in practice after co-driver Cam McLeod damaged the No.4 car following side-on contact at McPhillamy Park.
De Pasquale and Brad Jones Racing’s Maucaley Jones both nudged the wall at Griffins Bend, but the pair avoided significant damage.
PremiAir Nulon’s Golding also side-swiped the wall at Griffins Bend in the second practice but recovered to go fourth-fastest.
