Jarrod Hughes tops final co-driver practice for Erebus
Erebus young gun puts six tenths on the field on Saturday morning
#2 Toyota, #38 Ford return to track after overnight rebuilds
Jarrod Hughes has topped the time sheets in the final co-driver practice session at the Repco Bathurst 1000, ensuring Erebus Motorsport topped both of the additional driver sessions.
The Erebus Academy young gun set a late flyer in Practice 5, leading the way with a 2:05.5864s as the only driver to dip below a 2:06s lap time.
While Hughes' benchmark was some six tenths of a second up the road from the next entry, all eyes were beginning to turn towards Sunday's 1000km classic with final race tuning taking shape.
Early morning rain had left a damp track for the first support sessions of the day, however by the time the co-driver session began, the circuit had largely dried out.
David Russell was the first to break into the 2:06's on a 2:06.9139s for PremiAir Racing, while Nathan Herne also impressed in the Garry Rogers Motorsport wildcard, knocking Russell out of top spot on a 2:06.7892s.
Team 18 also carried on with its impressive speed shown throughout the weekend, with all three of its Chevrolets inside the top 10 early, and Lee Holdsworth spending time at the top with a 2:06.7510s, followed by a 2:06.5150s.
That was split by a welcome sight for Walkinshaw TWG, as Evans put the rebuilt #2 Toyota on top for a period on a 2:06.5625s. Richie Stanaway then went ahead of both on a 2:06.2154s at the halfway mark.
Several teams elected to focus on long race runs of at least 10 laps in the final co-driver only session of the weekend, Matt Stone Racing banking 20 laps for both Aaron Seton and Harri Jones right from the green flag.
Boys was lucky to get away with a scare at McPhillamy Park when he dipped a rear wheel over the back of the kerb onto the damp verge, while Reuben Goodall and Todd Hazelwood both survived brushes with the wall.
There were more niggling dramas for the #19 Penrite Racing Ford, this time identified as a shift cut concern after Will Davison reported some more straight line performance issues.
Hazelwood had another moment on his long race run, getting sideways through McPhillamy Park in a very similar moment to the one Boys had mere minutes earlier.
Most teams had shifted their focus to long runs in the final 20 minutes of the session, though the timing screen did light up for some in the final minutes.
Tim Slade popped up to second in the #26 Penrite Ford, just 0.0224s off Stanaway, while Hughes jumped up to third on a 2:06.3458s, before going even faster on his last lap to go fastest of all.
Zak Best also put in a last gasp flyer to go second on a 2:06.2003s, putting both Blanchard Racing Team Fords inside the top three. Slade, Russell, Holdsworth, Goodall, Hazelwood, Mark Winterbottom, and Evans rounded out the top 10.
The sixth and final practice session of the 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000 will commence at 1:10pm AEDT.
