Campbell edges Gounon, Stanaway in Practice 5

Matt Campbell has fired the first shot on Bathurst 12 Hour Saturday with the fastest time in Practice 5.

Aussie star Campbell, the 2019 winner, clocked a 2:02.7513s in the closing minutes.

Campbell is sharing the #912 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3R with Mathieu Jaminet and Thomas Preining.

The 2020 pole-sitter pipped two-time 12 Hour winner Jules Gounon and debutant Richie Stanaway.

French driver Gounon led the running for much of the session aboard the #75 SunEnergy1 Mercedes-AMG.

Stanaway, driving with Jamie Whincup and Prince Jefri Ibrahim, slotted in just 0.0292s behind Gounon.

The top three were covered by 0.1061s, with the top eight covered by 0.8923s.

The session began in drama after a stoppage for Ross Poulakis (#101 Mercedes-AMG).

Poulakis was later penalised for ignoring red flags, with officials investigating the incident further.

When the session resumed, times quickly progressed, with Broc Feeney (#88 Mercedes-AMG) leading the way on a 2:04.4861s.

With 38 minutes remaining, Christopher Haase (#74 Audi) shot to the top on a 2:04.1543s.

Sheldon van der Linde (#32 BMW) and Frederic Vervisch (#55 Audi) slotted in just behind before the latter went faster.

Vervisch was first into the 2:03s on Saturday with a 2:03.9568s, but there was plenty more to come.

In a quick burst of times, Thomas Preining (#912 Porsche) went top on a 2:03.4562s ahead of Gounon and Whincup.

Gounon then turned up the wick and clocked a 2:02.8282s before handing over to Luca Stolz.

With 17 minutes remaining, Maro Engel fired the #999 GruppeM Mercedes-AMG to second on a 2:03.1815s.

Engel went on with it, going purple in the second sector, before pulling off to pit lane.

With 15 minutes remaining, Stanaway took over the #99 Boost Mobile Mercedes from Whincup.

On 12 Hour debut, Stanaway clocked the second 2:02s lap of the session with a 2:02.8574s, which was just 0.0292s from Gounon’s benchmark.

The cat among the pigeons was David Russell, who clocked a 2:03.4245s in the Silver-class #47 Audi.

The #74 Audi jumped to fourth late on with Patrick Niederhauser behind the wheel, with Raffaele Marciello aboard the #999.

With five minutes remaining, Campbell vaulted the Grello Porsche to the top on a 2:02.7513s, having set the fastest first sector.

Cars will return to the track for the hour-long Practice 6 at 10:50am local time.

Qualifying will commence at 12:45pm before the Pirelli Top 10 Shootout at 4:10pm.