Overnight engine change for Pither car

PremiAir Racing has changed the engine on Chris Pither’s car after Friday practice.

Pither finished Practice 2 at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 in 20th position.

PremiAir mechanics managed to put the car back out onto the track after it began emanating smoke.

The session was red-flagged early on after Will Brown brought his car to a halt.

Series leader Shane van Gisbergen also fired down the Turn 11 escape road.

All the while, Pither nursed his car back to the pit lane with smoke trailing behind the #22 Coca-Cola car.

The Arundel-based team put Pither onto the track, and he recorded 16 laps in the 30-minute session.

The initial issue was detected as a power steering issue.

Team Principal Matt Cook added that the team was alerted by a power steer pressure alarm on the dash.

The Pither car also picked up a power steering issue during the Repco Bathurst 1000.

The team later detected a separate issue with the engine at the end of practice, and opted to replace the engine.

Brown came to a halt with six minutes elapsed in Practice 2, stopping his Boost Mobile Commodore in the run to the beach chicane.

The Queenslander remonstrated over the radio, saying he had suffered a similar issue to Perth.

Back in May, Brown ground to a halt during Race 11 at Wanneroo Raceway with a failed alternator.

Brown's car was returned to the garage, with Erebus quickly turning around repairs on the car.

Erebus put another battery in the #9 Commodore, given there wasn't enough time to turn around a quick alternator change.

The 24-year-old returned to the session and clocked the ninth fastest time.

Cars will hit the track for ARMOR ALL Qualifying at 11:25am local time.