McLaughlin Just Two-Tenths Away

No lap record broken – yet.

Practice one at the Sargent Security Phillip Island 360, comprising of the field’s rookies and bottom 50 per cent, is complete.

Just 0.26 of a second separates Craig Lowndes’ qualifying lap record (1min32.07) and the time set by Scott McLaughlin today, a 1min32.33.

McLaughlin praised the resurfaced circuit, saying it was one of the smoothest he’d driven. Similar to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas – but grippier.

“The track’s awesome. It’s so smooth, I’ve never been on a track that doesn’t have any bumps,” he said after the session.

“I’m enjoying it.”

McLaughlin did not run on green tyres and was predicting to see times in the 1min31sec bracket – at least.

His Fujitsu GRM Holden Commodore had suffered problems at previous event, the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600, but was fine today and through a 150-lap test the team conducted at Winton Raceway in recent weeks.

“(In the session) The car was great obviously – still a few little changes but early days. Pretty happy.”

McLaughlin was followed by Michael Caruso, who was 0.054sec off the pace in his Norton Hornet Nissan, Tim Slade third in his Erebus Motorsport V8 Mercedes-Benz, with Tony D’Alberto, Todd Kelly, Russell Ingall, Chaz Mostert (the first of the Ford Falcon’s home) ahead of Dick Johnson Racing teammate Tim Blanchard, Lee Holdsworth, and McLaughlin’s teammate Alex Premat rounding out the top 10.

Click here for full results from the first practice session at the Sargent Security Phillip Island 360.

Practice two, which includes all drivers, kicks off at 12.50pm ADT.