McLeod gaps the field in rain-hit Practice 2

Cameron McLeod has set the pace in final Dunlop Series practice at the Thrifty Bathurst 500, which was affected by wet weather at Mount Panorama.

McLeod, who is making his Super2 debut, put 0.6s on the field after 40 minutes of running, which was largely held under rainy skies.

The third-generation driver powered his #92 Coca-Cola-backed Commodore to a 2:10.6680s in the closing seconds of the session.

Anderson Motorsport rookie Max Vidau, also making his Super2 debut, ended up second aboard his #17 Tyrepower-backed Mustang, setting a 2:11.3123s late on.

All four Eggleston Motorsport cars didn’t set a representative lap time in the session, while Zane Morse and Mason Kelly — who crashed out of Practice 1 — didn’t take part at all.

Rain began to fall before the session began, with Bates turning in a 2:38.5666s as drivers tip-toed around the track. As the session wore on, a drying line emerged, with drivers ultimately taking on wet-weather tyres.

McLeod was the bravest of all by session's end, putting over half a second on his nearest rival Vidau. Reuben Goodall, who crashed his #20 Gomersall Commodore, ended up third ahead of returning driver Thomas Maxwell (#3 Altima) and Matt Chahda (#18 Commodore).

Rookie Cody Burcher, one of two Super3 drivers in the field, set a 2:42.1978s and a 2:40.5252s in his #15 Altima, before Bates went to the top.

Burcher returned serve with a 2:36.9591s, before 2023 Super2 champion Kai Allen — who topped Practice 1 — clocked a 2:33.9713s in his #1 Eggleston Commodore.

McLeod put in a 2:33.4286s before Matt Chahda (#18 Commodore) clocked a 2:29.8851s.

Super3 champion Jobe Stewart (#99 Commodore) went fastest with a 2:27.4895s, before Goodall (2:26.4145s), Burcher (2:26.2017s), and Stewart (2:23.9988s) all improved.

Chahda was first to switch to dry tyres and clocked a 2:23.8004s, before Jarrod Hughes (#118 Commodore) went quicker with a 2:22.9605s.

Goodall improved to a 2:21.8271s, with McLeod sending in a 2:20.8793s and a 2:19.5711s. Burcher returned to the top with a 2:18.3443s, before Bates laid down a 2:15.4340s and a 2:13.9926s.

Bates was top of three when the chequered flag flew, but ended up sixth as drivers improved. Maxwell first went quickest with a 2:13.5169s, before McLeod emerged as the fastest driver.

Dunlop Series action on Saturday will commence with Qualifying at 9:25am local time, which sets the grid for Race 1 at 2:45pm.