Just 0.004s in it: Waters pips Winterbottom in Practice 2

Cameron Waters has pipped Mark Winterbottom in second practice at the Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint.

Just 0.004s covered the top two runners, with Waters leading the way ahead of ARMOR All Qualifying for Race 3.

All told, the top 10 runners were covered by 0.436s, but the battle for top spot was between a current Tickford star and former Ford hero.

Waters hit the front through five minutes with a 1:08.330s ahead of Tim Slade, who is campaigning a different chassis following his Bathurst accident.

WATCH: HEAVYWEIGHTS AT THE TOP - PRACTICE 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Through 13 minutes, Winterbottom fired his IRWIN Racing Commodore to the top with a 1:08.166s, which he lowered to a 1:07.917 with two minutes remaining.

Shell V-Power Racing’s Anton De Pasquale came to within 0.2s of the #18 entry, with Walkinshaw Andretti United star Chaz Mostert also breaking into the top four.

However, Waters went fastest of all as the session wound down, with the #6 Monster Energy Mustang soaring to P1 with a 1:07.913s.

Shane van Gisbergen continued to impress amid his collarbone injury, with the Red Bull Ampol Racing driver recording the fifth quickest time.

The Kiwi was one of only four drivers to be within three tenths of Waters’ flyer, with Tickford duo James Courtney and Jack Le Brocq filling P6 and P7.

Winterbottom looms as a pole hopeful

Scott Pye made it two Team 18 cars in the top 10, with Brad Jones Racing duo Nick Percat and Macauley Jones completing the top 10.

Jamie Whincup, who topped Practice 1, was only 14th in the second session, six tenths down on Waters.

Bryce Fullwood and Brodie Kostecki were the only casualties of the 30-minute hit-out, with the former spinning at the entry of Turn 4 with 10 minutes remaining.

Kostecki’s #99 Boost Mobile-backed Erebus entry suffered a gear cut issue, with driveline vibrations also affecting the car in Practice 1.

ARMOR ALL Qualifying will follow at 1:45pm ahead of the 36-lap Race 3 at 4:45pm.

The Repco Supercars Championship field has returned to Victoria this weekend at the Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint. Tickets are on sale now.

The event will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo. Check out the full weekend schedule here.