Sweeny sets ominous pace in opening Tassie practice

A test day held by Blanchard Racing Team at Symmons Plains in the lead-up to Round 2 of the Dunlop Super2 Series has worked wonders for Bailey Sweeny, who has topped Practice 1

Sporting new backing from Super Spill & Safety Solutions, rookie Sweeny was at the top of the timesheets for the majority of the session, at one stage putting more than half a second on the field.

The ultimate benchmark set by the #33 Mustang was a 52.4830s, which is half a second down on the practice and qualifying lap record set by Garry Jacobson in 2018.

Sweeny's buffer was slashed by Walkinshaw Andretti United rookie Matt Hillyer as the final runs of the session began, with the #25 Commodore setting a 52.7289s to finish second for the session.

The only other driver to dip under the 53 second barrier was fellow rookie Reuben Goodall, who set a 52.9777s on his final lap to finish third ahead of Tickford teammate and Launceston local Lochie Dalton on a 53.0261s.

Any final runs were scuppered by a red flag in the final six minutes of the session, as Mason Kelly ran long at the Turn 4 hairpin and couldn't get out of the run-off area.

The session ultimately would not resume, with many teams about to start their final burst for the session, with some heavy hitters finding themselves further down the pecking order.

Despite his off, it was a positive session for Kelly, who set the fifth fastest time of the session, ahead of the final two Tickford Mustangs of Rylan Gray and Nash Morris.

Rounding out the top 10 in the session were Jarrod Hughes, Cameron McLeod, and current points leader Jordyn Sinni.

Reigning champion Zach Bates finished 14th in his first ever session in any race car at Symmons Plains, whilst Triple Eight duo Ben Gomersall and Jackson Walls also found themselves down the order in 18th and 23rd.

Campbell Logan, the second of the Tasmanians in the field this weekend, finished 12th in his #2 WAU Commodore, having been as high as third after the opening runs.

Whilst Kelly's off was the only red flag stoppage of the session, several drivers were pushing the limits throughout the opening 40-minute hit-out of the weekend.

Bates ran long at the end of the back straight, whilst his former WAU teammate Logan had an off at the complex braking zone at Turn 2.

Jobe Stewart was another to run off at the Turn 4 hairpin, bit was able to find reverse in his #99 Commodore, but it was Max Geoghegan who perhaps had the biggest moment of the session after dipping two wheels in the dirt at the exit of Turn 7 running onto the pit straight.

Practice 2 for the Dunlop Super2 Series begins at 1:30pm AEST.