Reynolds edges Hazelwood, Kostecki in Perth practice
David Reynolds has beaten Todd Hazelwood to Friday practice honours at the Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint.
After 90 minutes of practice — which included three red flags — the margin between the two Fords was just 0.0348s.
Penrite Racing veteran Reynolds jumped to the top in the final minutes, just after Hazelwood fired his CoolDrive Ford to first position.
Series leader Brodie Kostecki was third aboard his #99 Coca-Cola Chevrolet, just 0.1501s behind Reynolds.
“I thought I wasn’t going to concentrate for an hour-and-a-half, but it seemed to be alright,” Reynolds said.
“We did it methodically, slowly and not trying to rush any changes.
“It was really good work by the crew, and everyone collectively worked out, we made the car better.
“The boys have built a fantastic car. The majority of the time we roll out, we can be at the front."
Nine different teams were represented in the top 10, with Anton De Pasquale (Shell V-Power Racing Team) and Mark Winterbottom (Team 18) fourth and fifth.
James Golding (Nulon Racing) was sixth ahead of Andre Heimgartner (Brad Jones Racing) and Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United).
Matt Payne (Penrite Racing) and James Courtney (Tickford Racing) rounded out the top 10.
Only Red Bull Ampol Racing and Matt Stone Racing didn’t have representatives in the top 10, with Broc Feeney and Jack Le Brocq 11th and 12th.
Shane van Gisbergen, who won two races in Perth last year, was only 14th after leading proceedings early on.
Van Gisbergen led the way with a 55.3948s when the session was suspended for the second time after Macauley Jones (#96 Pizza Hut Camaro) ran off at Turn 7.
Earlier, the session was stopped as a data beacon was adjusted.
Van Gisbergen’s time held sway until Heimgartner fired his #8 R&J Batteries Camaro to the top with a 55.0685s with 51 minutes remaining.
Moments later, the session was halted for a third time when Cameron Hill spun off at Turn 6 and buried his #35 Truck Assist Camaro.
Will Davison (#17 Shell V-Power Mustang) was first into the 54s with a 54.8773s, but ended up 13th as times continued to tumble.
Points leader Kostecki — who was kept in the garage for the opening minutes with a brake master cylinder seal issue — clocked a 54.7037s.
Golding (#31 Nulon Camaro) and Reynolds (#26 Penrite Mustang) slotted in behind, and were split by Winterbottom (#18 DEWALT Camaro).
With less than six minutes to go, De Pasquale jumped to P1 with a 54.6915s, before Kostecki went quickest again, albeit by just 0.0129s.
In the final two minutes, 2017 Super2 champion Hazelwood laid down a 54.5633s before Reynolds went quickest of all.
Will Brown (#9 Coca-Cola Camaro) ended up 16th, with Cam Waters (#6 Monster Mustang) 22nd ahead of Nick Percat (#2 Mobil 1 NTI Mustang) and Jones.
Cars will return to CARCO.com.au on Saturday for knockout ARMOR ALL Qualifying at 11:10am local time/1:10pm AEST.
Tickets for this weekend’s Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.
