Love dominates final Dunlop Series practice

Aaron Love has dominated final Dunlop Series at the VAILO Adelaide 500, with Super2 title contenders Kai Allen and Zak Best returning to the top.

Blanchard Racing Team driver Love was the quickest throughout the 40-minute session as times improved amid rainfall.

Love proved 0.3518s quicker than Eggleston Motorsport driver Allen, who recovered from a power steering-affected morning session to finish second.

Allen heads into this weekend 30 points down on Anderson Motorsport star Best, who after placing 19th in Practice 1, improved to fourth in Practice 2.

The Super2 title contenders were split by impressive Super3 talent Cameron McLeod, who has taken nine of 10 Super3 pole positions in 2023.

Eggleston driver Cameron Crick, Tickford Racing’s Brad Vaughan and Gomersall Motorsport’s Aaron Seton filled positions five through seven, with Mason Kelly backing up his earlier pace with ninth.

Zane Morse and Lochie Dalton were eighth and 10th, with Tickford Super3 rookie Rylan Gray an impressive 11th aboard his FG X Falcon.

Rain remained following a soggy Practice 1, and Love was straight on the money with a 1:35.9962s, before improving to a 1:33.7110s.

Love improved his own benchmark to a 1:32.8806s after the first runs, with McLeod and Kelly trading blows for second. All the while, Love improved again, with the BRT Ford driver clocking a 1:31.7270s with nine minutes to go.

Allen, who recorded only five laps in Practice 1, was down in 19th before he fired his first shot with a 1:33.1158s to jump to fourth. Love, meanwhile, went quicker again with a 1:31.3613s.

McLeod consolidated second with a 1:32.1647s before Allen jumped to third with a 1:32.3374s, with Vaughan and Dalton fourth and fifth.

From nowhere, Best, who suffered with cabin fogging throughout the day, vaulted to fourth at the death with a 1:31.9707s as Allen powered to second with a 1:31.7131s.

The session wasn't without drama, with Gray forced into the lane after his left rear door came ajar. Jay Hanson also suffered clutch pedal issues, and ended up 23rd. Image Racing stablemate Jobe Stewart, who leads the Super3 standings, was 21st.

Dunlop Series drivers will return on Friday for two ARMOR ALL Qualifying sessions at 11:50am local time/12:20pm AEDT and 4:50pm local time/5:20pm AEDT.