Randle leads Ford top five, more issues for SVG

Thomas Randle has opened proceedings at the OTR Supersprint with the quickest time in Practice 1, as Shane van Gisbergen encountered more car issues.

Randle (#55 Castrol Mustang) clocked a 1:50.8386s and led a Ford top five in the first competitive Gen3 running in South Australia.

The Tickford Racing driver was one of two drivers to set a time in the 1:50s at The Bend Motorsport Park, with rookie Matt Payne (#19 Penrite Mustang) second.

Payne was 0.0795s down on Randle’s benchmark, with Will Davison (#17 Shell V-Power Mustang) jumping to third late on with a 1:51.0667s.

Cam Waters (#6 Monster Mustang) was fourth ahead of Anton De Pasquale (#11 Shell V-Power Mustang), with Broc Feeney (#88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro) first Chevrolet home in sixth.

It was a far different story for Feeney's teammate van Gisbergen, who completed just four laps and was 25th and last.

Van Gisbergen, who is in Triple Eight’s wildcard chassis, spent the second half of the session watching on after pulling into pit lane.

The reigning champion reported handling issues in his #97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro, and elected to sit out the balance of the session.

Van Gisbergen was in and out of the garage

Feeney was highest of the top four in the championship in the session, with Erebus Motorsport duo Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown ninth and 11th respectively.

Van Gisbergen was slowest on the time sheets with a 1:54.3322s, with the Triple Eight crew under the bonnet of his car after he initially came into the garage.

The #97 returned to the track, but van Gisbergen returned to the garage and stepped out of the car as the session wore on.

De Pasquale set the early running with a 1:51.3244s, before Waters went faster with a 1:51.2249s, Feeney splitting them with a 1:51.3256s.

Randle clocked his 1:50.8386s midway through the session, and he would remain the leading driver to the chequered flag.

Waters improved his time — but not his position — with a 1:51.1212s, before Payne and Davison improved.

Payne jumped to third before improving to second with a 1:50.9181s, with Davison setting a 1:51.0667s to jump from 12th to third.

James Courtney (#5 Snowy River Caravans Mustang) made it six Fords in the top seven with Andre Heimgartner (#8 R&J Batteries Camaro) eighth ahead of championship leader Kostecki.

David Reynolds (#26 Penrite Mustang) rounded out the top 10 ahead of Brown, with Jack Le Brocq (#34 Truck Assist Mustang) 12th.

Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Mustang), who is fifth in the championship, was only 16th.

Supercars will return to the circuit for Practice 2 at 11:40am local time/12:10pm AEST.