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Wood tops co-driver practice, Whincup crashes

08 Oct 2022
Whincup one of many caught out in the rain
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Practice 5 Highlights: Repco Bathurst 1000

Dale Wood has led the way in Saturday co-driver practice, with Jamie Whincup one of several casualties.

Whincup was one of a number of drivers caught out as the rain returned to Mount Panorama.

Seven-time winner Whincup led the early running, but met the Griffin’s Bend barriers.

  • Click here for Practice 5 results

The incident occurred just after the first stoppage of the session.

Kurt Kostecki crashed at the same corner, with Aaron Seton later firing into the wall over Skyline.

Michael Caruso shot into the sand at The Chase, triggering a third and session-ending red flag.

Wood clocked his 2:26.222s aboard Andre Heimgartner’s car just prior to Caruso’s off.

With four minutes on the clock, officials opted to declare the session early.

The 2013 Super2 champion led a quartet of Commodores, with Fabian Coulthard just behind.

Whincup crashes in Practice at Bathurst

Coulthard, Jordan Boys and Declan Fraser were within 0.12s of Wood’s time.

Co-drivers had the track to themselves for the first time since Thursday afternoon, when Garth Tander clocked a 2:04s.

Some Saturday, and drivers could pace no quicker than 2:26s, with Whincup opening proceedings with a 2:28.769s.

Whincup lowered the benchmark to a 2:27.266s, but struck trouble at Griffin’s Bend.

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It came after the session was suspended for the first time following Kostecki’s accident at the same corner.

After the resumption, Whincup’s time held sway, but Seton became the second major casualty.

The third-generation driver buried the #34 Truck Assist Holden into the left-hand barriers over Skyline.

The car suffered extensive front-end damage, with Seton returning to the lane unscathed.

The times began to drop, with Matt Campbell pacing the #26 Penrite Ford to consecutive flyers.

Seton crashes hard down the Esses

The Porsche ace lowered the benchmark first to a 2:27.168s, before diving into the 2:26s.

Fraser, the Super2 points leader, carried the #888 Supercheap Auto wildcard into the top two. He ended up fourth.

Coulthard fought the conditions to put the #25 Mobil 1 Optus Holden on top with a 2:26.290s.

Boys lowered the marker to the tune of just 0.003s, before Wood went quickest of all before Caruso’s off.

Whincup ended the session 10th, with Campbell, Warren Luff, James Moffat, Dylan O'Keeffe and Zane Goddard just ahead.

Tander was only 16th, behind Alex Davison (12th) and ahead of Tony D'Alberto (18th).

Zak Best brought up the rear, with the #55 Castrol Ford suffering suspected fuel pump issues.

Cars will return to the track for all-in Practice 6 at 1:00pm local time.

Saturday’s action will conclude with the ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootout at 5:05pm.

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