Aston Martin leads Mercedes, Porsche in second 12 Hour practice
Volante Rosso puts Aston Martin on top in Bathurst
Jamie Day sets the fastest time in Practice 2 on Friday
Kenny Habul, Yasser Shahin second and third for Mercedes and Porsche
Volante Rosso driver Jamie Day has set the fastest time in the second practice session of the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour in Aston Martin's return to the event.
Day, contesting his first Bathurst 12 Hour this weekend alongside Ecuadorian Mateo Villagomez and Australian rising star Jaylyn Robotham, set a 2:05.1060s to put almost a second on the chasing pack in the Bronze-only session.
Having driven GT4 machinery for Aston Martin in the British GT Championship, finishing second in last year's standings, Day is relishing the opportunity to compete in the GT3-spec Vantage AMR at the 12 Hour this weekend.
"It's immense, to be honest, my first ever time driving it and there's no track quite like it," the 19-year-old Emirati said.
"I haven't done too many laps so far today, I'm just learning every time I go out, it's all about that constant improvement and hopefully we can find a bit more later this afternoon to be right up the front with the rest of the Pros, but so far I've loved every minute I've been on the track."
The trio in the Volante Rosso Aston are all making their 12 Hour debuts this weekend competing in the Silver Class, however Day hopes to be fighting at the front come Sunday.
"Honestly, we're just sharing it, and then every time we come out we just share as much as we can and give as constructive feedback as possible to the team all at once, and hopefully by Sunday we can be right up there," Day added.
"We've all been very similar [with car feedback], myself and Mateo are a little bit more experienced with the car, Jaylyn has a bit more experience with the track.
"We're putting it all together and every time we're going out there we just try and help out and push to be at the front."
Two-time 12 Hour winner Kenny Habul finished second in the Pro class SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes on a 2:06.0620s, with Yasser Shahin third in the Manthey EMA Pro-Am Porsche on a 2:07.1950s.
Ross Gunn was the top Bronze class entry in the Heart of Racing by SPS Mercedes in fifth on a 2:07.8540s, two tenths clear of the second fastest Bronze entry, Grove Racing's Stephen Grove.
The Invitational class KTM was 11th in the hands of David Crampton, whilst Daniel Bilski topped the GT4 class in the Team Nineteen Mercedes in 12th on a 2:19.5430s.
Practice 3 for the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour begins at 1:45pm this afternoon, and is open to all teams and drivers.
