Davison sets hot early Bathurst pace

Will Davison has gapped the field in opening practice at the Repco Bathurst 1000.

Davison clocked a 2:04.369s in the closing minutes of the hour-long hit-out.

The two-time Bathurst winner completed the entire session behind the wheel of his #17 Ford.

Davison, 40, is sharing his Shell V-Power entry with older brother Alex.

James Golding was a standout second aboard his #31 Subway PremiAir Holden.

Golding, who only rejoined Supercars in July, was just 0.01s down on Davison’s flyer.

Andre Heimgartner completed the top three, with the Brad Jones Racing recruit 0.28s behind Davison.

Davison's time was 0.7s faster than Cam Waters's time in the corresponding session last December.

Waters paced Practice 1 at the 2021 event with a 2:05.023s.

The 60-minute session was held in dry yet greasy conditions, which was a far cry from Wednesday’s weather.

Rain had lashed Mount Panorama to Thursday morning, but conditions cleared for Practice 1.

It kept several drivers on their toes, with three of the top four in the championship hitting trouble.

Waters triggered the first red flag of the session with an off at Murray’s Corner.

Later, Shane van Gisbergen avoided a major incident when he brushed the Reid Park concrete.

Seconds afterwards, Anton De Pasquale spun at Forrest’s Elbow, but managed to avoid the barriers.

The session ended prematurely following an off at the first corner for Jake Kostecki with three minutes left.

The preceding Dunlop Series session finished with drivers on slicks.

The track had dried out, and van Gisbergen set the early pace with a 2:10.757s.

He quickly lowered his own benchmark to a 2:07.503s on his second flyer.

Davison dropped in a 2:06.919s before 2021 Bathurst winner Chaz Mostert clocked a 2:06.311s.

Van Gisbergen fired in a 2:06.008s at the start of his second run, before going even faster on a 2:05.324s.

Waters ran off at the final corner at the 24-minute mark, having already had an off at The Chase.

Heimgartner also had an off at the final corner when the session resumed.

David Reynolds lowered the marker with a 2:05.2410s in the 43rd minute.

Shortly afterwards, van Gisbergen and De Pasquale had their incidents.

Davison went fastest of all on a 2:04.369s, with Golding going second with a 2:04.385s.

Kostecki’s off saw the session declared early, cementing Davison atop the timesheets.

Practice 2, for co-drivers only, will commence at 3:55pm local time on Thursday.