Love survives wall hit to top Practice 2
Dunlop Series
05 Oct
Aaron Love over 0.4s clear in second Dunlop Series practice
BRT rookie hit the wall across the top before setting fastest time
Super3 driver Ryan Gilroy crashes at same spot, bringing out red flag
Aaron Love has dominated Practice 2 in the Dunlop Series in Bathurst despite hitting the wall across the top of the Mountain.
Love hit the concrete on approach to McPhillamy Park and was handed a mechanical black flag, even through the driver didn’t report the incident at all.
The West Aussie driver returned to the track after a stoppage caused by a crash for Super3 driver Ryan Gilroy, also across the top, to consolidate his pace.
Love’s 2:05.4619s was a whopping 0.4342s ahead of the next best, Zane Morse, after 40 minutes of practice.
Gilroy triggered a short stoppage after he clouted the wall in his #89 Altima through Reid Park, and brought his car to a rest at John Hinxman Vista.
Love's time was just 0.0461s quicker than the Practice 1 benchmark of series leader Zak Best, who ended up fourth on the time sheets behind Love, Morse and Ryan Wood.
Kai Allen was fifth, with three of the top four in the Super2 standings in the top five. Cooper Murray, who led the early stanza of the session, ended up 10th, 1.1449s behind Love.
Love led the times after the first 10 minutes with a 2:07.8527s, with Best just 0.1703s just behind in second. Love improved to a 2:07.3082s, with Best consolidating second with a 2:07.4413s.
Murray was first into the 2:06s aboard his #88 Eggleston Holden with a 2:06.6068s, undercutting Jay Hanson's 2:07.0540s. Best again jumped to second, with a 2:06.9505s, before Gilroy crashed and caused the first stoppage of the day.
Drivers returned for a short burst before the chequered flag, and Wood vaulted to the top with a 2:06.5540s and, on his following lap, a 2:05.9915s.
The times continued the tumble, with Love clocking a 2:05.7218s before improving to a 2:05.4619s. All the while, Morse jumped to second with a 2:05.8961s, with Love, Morse and Wood the only three drivers in the 2:05s in the session.
Cameron McLeod was the first Super3 driver in 13th overall aboard his #92 Altima, with Jett Johnson losing time in the garage due to a suspected driveline issue.
Dunlop Series drivers will return to the track for ARMOR ALL Qualifying on Friday morning at 8:55 AEDT, which will set the grid for the first 100km race.
