Kostecki denies Courtney in opening practice

Series leader Brodie Kostecki has kicked off his NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint campaign with the fastest time in Practice 1.

The #99 Coca-Cola Chevrolet driver put in a late flyer to lead the timesheets after 30 minutes of practice.

Kostecki led a quartet of Ford Mustangs, with Tickford Racing teammates James Courtney and Cam Waters sandwiching Todd Hazelwood.

Erebus Motorsport star Kostecki’s session wasn’t without incident, with the #99 Camaro running off at the Turn 4 hairpin.

Kostecki was one of several drivers to strike trouble at the hairpin, with Andre Heimgartner (#8 R&J Batteries Camaro) the first victim.

Later, Heimgartner’s Brad Jones Racing teammate Bryce Fullwood followed in Team 18 driver Scott Pye.

Fullwood also bowled a wide exiting Turn 7, and ended up 23rd — the last of the drivers within a second of Kostecki.

Kostecki set his 51.0147s lap just before the chequered flag, with #5 Snowy River Caravans Mustang driver Courtney next on a 51.1632s.

Tod Hazelwood (#3 CoolDrive Mustang) jumped to third late on ahead of Davison (#17 Shell V-Power Mustang) and Waters (#6 Monster Mustang).

The next six in the results were Camaro drivers, with Will Brown (#9 Coca-Cola Camaro) sixth ahead of Shane van Gisbergen (#97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro).

Mark Winterbottom (#18 DEWALT Camaro), Jack Smith (#4 SCT Logistics Camaro), Broc Feeney (#88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro), and Heimgartner rounded out the top 10.

Cars rolled out at 9:00am local time to just four degrees Celsius, and Waters was the early fast man along with Courtney and Davison.

The three Ford drivers traded fast times in the first runs, Waters leading the field with a 51.2577s ahead of Davison (51.2730s) and Courtney (51.2988s).

Drivers returned to pit lane at the midway point, with teams adjusting cars. Van Gisbergen returned with new front springs and jumped to fifth with a 51.4341s.

Red Bull Ampol Racing teammate Feeney had fire extinguishers around his car due to a smoking chunk of rubber.

Feeney, who won the last race in Perth, returned without incident and posted the ninth quickest time.

Teams bolted on new tyres and drivers turned up the wick, Davison going quickest on a 51.2071s Kostecki jumped to the top.

Courtney and Hazelwood improved, dropping Davison and Waters to fourth and fifth.

Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang) was only good enough for 18th with a 51.6965s, two positions behind teammate Nick Percat.

Supercars will return to the track for Practice 2 at 10:55am local time, followed by ARMOR ALL Qualifying at 12:55pm.