Van Gisbergen quickest in first session

Quick Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen has topped the first session of the Castrol Townsville 500 -Driven by TAFE Queensland with a 1min14.0553 lap around the 2.85km street circuit.

Van Gisbergen had a forgettable day on the Saturday of last year's event, but had a stellar run on Sunday, driving from the back of the pack to the podium, to finish behind Garth Tander and James Courtney in the Holden Racing Team 1-2 finish.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it from the back and can start up the front (this time)," he said after practice.

"Definitely (the car) feels like it did last year, I just need to make some improvements. I'm sure we can do it...

"There are a lot of sessions today, but that's a good start."

Van Gisbergen said it will take until the end of the day, when teams put their second set of Dunlop hard tyres on, to see where they all shake out.

Tander and Courtney finished the session second and third, the #2 Commodore driver just 0.33sec behind the TEKNO Commodore.

Walkinshaw Racing stablemates Tim Slade, in his Supercheap Auto Commodore, was fourth, with HHA's Nick Percat sixth, a good early showing for the four-car group.

Todd Kelly and his Nissan came home fifth, with Percat, Scott McLaughlin, Championship leader Mark Winterbottom, David Reynolds and Jason Bright rounding out the top 10.

Others to note include Craig Lowndes 11, Lee Holdsworth the first Erebus in 12, Jamie Whincup 16, Fabian Coulthard 23.

Click here for results.

The next 20-minute practice session begins t 11.40pm AEST.

Fans of van Gisbergen can go into the draw to win a hot lap with the Kiwi at the Coates Hire Ipswich 400, by purchasing any three-day pass to the event.

The competition commences at 9am on Friday July 4, 2014 and closes at 9am on Thursday July 31, 2014.

The Kiwi enjoys ride days, when fans have the opportunity to see what it's like inside the V8 Supercar.

"Definitely -we don't often get to show that side of what we do, it's pretty cool to show them. With the limited testing we do, we're still pushing on ride day laps. So they'll get a good thrill, that's for sure!"