Cameron quickest in Practice 1 as rain hits The Bend

A late-session downpour has helped rookie Aaron Cameron lead the way in opening practice at the AirTouch 500 at The Bend.

The Blanchard Racing Team rising star clocked a 1:50.0617s in the closing stages of Practice 1 before rain arrived, setting the order as driver grappled with treacherous conditions.

Through 30 minutes, the Cameron/Zak Best Mustang led an all-Ford top five, with Thomas Randle/James Moffat second in their Castrol Racing entry.

The lead Chevrolet was the Cameron Hill/Cameron McLeod Camaro out of Matt Stone Racing, with championship leader Broc Feeney 12th.

All 27 cars rolled out with primary drivers at the wheel, with Feeney opening proceedings with a 1:51.0469s. Triple Eight wildcard Craig Lowndes was first to make an error, finding the grass following his first flying lap.

Matt Payne (1:50.7354s), Hill (1:50.7574s), James Courtney (1:50.7673s) and Brodie Kostecki (1:50.7910s) all moved ahead as Feeney came into pit lane, with the top four covered by just 0.055s.

Through the opening 10 minutes, Payne led Hill, Courtney, Kostecki and Cameron, with Jack Le Brocq, Feeney, Jaxon Evans, Anton De Pasquale and David Reynolds rounding out the top 10. Cam Waters was 13th, with Will Brown 19th after locking up heavily into Turn 1.

The field gradually returned for a second run, with Randle going quickest through the first two sectors. Despite a slide through the final sector, the Tickford driver put 0.645s on the field with a 1:50.0900s.

Cameron (1:50.1603s) popped up to second ahead of Kostecki (1:50.3975s) and Waters (1:50.5722s), with the rookie going even quicker on his next lap to vault to the top.

As teams began handing cars to the co-drivers, a sudden downpour hit The Bend Motorsport Park, with the session declared wet. Drivers bravely continued on as rain lashed the circuit, with several drivers saving wild snaps as they fought their 600 horsepower beasts around the 4.95km track.

With rain intensifying, the time sheets didn't change, handing Practice 1 honours to BRT. The Brown/Scott Pye car was 18th, with the Lowndes/Zach Bates entry 27th and last.

Co-drivers will have a dedicated 30-minute session at 1:30pm local/2:00pm AEST, followed by Practice 3 at 3:55pm local/4:25pm AEST.