Mostert sets pace ahead of Shootout

Chaz Mostert took top honours in final practice ahead of the ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootout.

Mostert put the #25 Mobil 1 Optus Commodore atop the time sheets for the first time this weekend.

The session saw the Shootout runners prepare for their shot at pole.

While the threat of rain remains for the afternoon, Mostert will at least carry confidence into the one-lap dash.

The ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootout will commence at 5:05pm local time.

"It's never perfect, us race car drivers like to keep tuning it," Mostert said.

"That session is the happiest I've been all weekend, wet, dry or whatever.

"Last year's car isn't necessarily going to work this year.

"I'm really proud of the team, they've been looking through my frustration with the car."

The hour-long hit-out looked set to run green for its entirety, a far cry from the dramatic preceding sessions.

However, Jordan Boys crashed the #96 Commodore at McPhillamy in the closing seconds.

It was the third time the car had found drama in the weekend.

Macauley Jones crashed twice on Friday, the second due to contact from Shane van Gisbergen.

Van Gisbergen, who was second in Practice 6, copped a grid penalty over the incident.

Only 26 cars ran in the session, with Matt Stone Racing repairing the damaged #34.

Aaron Seton crashed the car at Skyline in the earlier rain-affected Practice 5.

The #3 CoolDrive Ford also sat in the garage after the car picked up damage due to an air jack issue.

The 60-minute session gave teams a key chance to finalise pit stop practice.

Primary and additional drivers both completed long runs in preparation for the race.

Unlike the earlier session, Practice 6 was held in entirely dry conditions.

Some teams still opted to road wet tyres ahead of Sunday’s 161-lap enduro.

One such team was Penrite Racing, with driver David Reynolds opening proceedings with a 2:09.862s.

Times dropped dramatically as the session wore on.

At the midway point, drivers had dipped into the 2:06s, and threatened the 2:05s barrier.

Mostert led a number of times, first with a 2:08.141s, then a 2:06.919s, before taking a 2:06.165s into the final 20 minutes.

Both Shell V-Power Racing Team Fords also demonstrated impressive pace, as did van Gisbergen.

Andre Heimgartner jumped to second on a 2:06.373s with 17 minutes to go.

Teams turned up the wick on their cars in the final 10 minutes to prepare for the Shootout.

Will Davison fired the first key shot with a 2:05.630s, with teammate Anton De Pasquale clocking a 2:06.032s.

In the closing minutes, van Gisbergen hit the front with a 2:05.613s.

Mostert fired in a 2:05.510s to take top spot, which he retained once Boys crashed.

Davison was third ahead of Cam Waters, Reynolds, De Pasquale and Brodie Kostecki.

Mark Winterbottom was eighth ahead of Lee Holdsworth and Scott Pye.

Seven of the 10 Shootout runners were in the top 10 in the session.

Richie Stanaway was 13th ahead of Will Brown; Nick Percat was 19th.