Stewart on song in opening Townsville practice

Jobe Stewart has started Round 3 of the 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series in the best possible way after topping the opening practice session at the NTI Townsville 500.

The South Australian was the only driver to dip below a 1:15s in the opening 40-minute hit-out of the weekend, and there were no red flag interruptions in a session dominated by Holdens.

The 23-car field rolled out under clear skies in Townsville, but being just the third category on track for the day, the track was still very green.

Reigning champion Zach Bates proved this as he torched an inside front in the Turn 2 braking zone, however the #1 Eggleston Motorsport Commodore was right at the pointy end to start the session.

The 21-year-old was the first to break into the 1:15s bracket and sat on a 1:15.8971s, and teammates Jordyn Sinni and Bradi Owen also joined him to make an Eggleston top three.

Rookie Cody Burcher then made it four Eggleston entries at the head of the field and went to the top on a 1:15.2761s, whilst Owen then improved to second on a 1:15.7804s.

The times tumbled in the final 10 minutes, as the likes of Jobe Stewart, Jarrod Hughes, and Matt Hillyer all leapt their way into the top 10.

Stewart went fastest of all with the first 1:14s of the day on a 1:14.9474s, putting more than three tenths on Burcher's marker.

Max Geoghegan also jumped to third in what could be a return to form for Image Racing and the Erebus Academy after a torrid start to the season.

Hughes would end the session in fourth, ahead of Owen, Bates, Brad Vaughan, Jordyn Sinni, and Hillyer, with Reuben Goodall the best of the Mustangs in 10th.

Series leader Rylan Gray was 14th in the #55 Tickford Autosport Mustang, whilst the most recent race winner, Nash Morris, was 18th.

Practice 2 for the Dunlop Super2 Series begins at 12:25pm AEST.