Last-gasp De Pasquale tops Sydney night practice

Anton De Pasquale has clocked the fastest time in Practice 2 under lights at the Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight.

The Shell V-Power Racing Team driver set the fastest time of the 30-minute session as the chequered flag flew at Sydney Motorsport Park.

De Pasquale, who paced the day’s earlier session, clocked the only 1:28s lap of Practice 2, unseating Jamie Whincup at the death.

Cooler conditions and fresh tyres saw the top times change late on, but it was the same driver atop the totem.

The session was the first instance in 468 days, dating back to July 2020, that Supercars had run under lights.

This time, however, the 24-car field took to the venue’s all-new permanent lighting system, with the track lit by 132 towers.

Winds and temperatures had dropped relative to the afternoon session, which was topped by De Pasquale.

Nick Percat fired his #8 R&J Batteries Commodore to the top early with a 1:29.631s.

Percat’s early flyer was six tenths faster than De Pasquale’s Practice 1-topping time.

Whincup hit the top with a 1:29.591s, albeit for mere seconds as van Gisbergen shot to P1 with a 1:29.449s.

Five minutes later, Chaz Mostert - a two-time race winner at SMSP - split the Red Bull Ampol Racing teammates with a 1:29.511s.

The three Commodores were covered by just 0.142s, with van Gisbergen just 0.062s ahead of Walkinshaw Andretti United ace Mostert.

The balance of the field bolted on new tyres for the final runs.

Notably, Cameron Waters, who was second in Practice 1, rolled out for his final run in 23rd position.

Waters moved up to sixth on his final run, but was 11th all told by session’s end.

Whincup shot to the top in the dying seconds with a 1:29.042s, with van Gisbergen slotting in 0.338s behind.

However, De Pasquale emerged quickest of all with his 1:28.806s.

Cars will return to the track for ARMOR ALL Qualifying at 3:35pm AEDT on Saturday.

A Top Ten Shootout will follow at 4:40pm, with Race 20 to commence under lights at 7:10pm.

Drivers will have just five sets of the Dunlop Soft compound from the start of Saturday's first qualifying session.