Golding flies, Payne quick as rookies soar at DNSW Sydney Test Day

Bathurst champion Matt Payne emerged on top of the time sheets through the opening hours of the Destination NSW Sydney Test Day, with red flags flying and rookies showing early promise.

After Will Brown put his #888 Red Bull Ampol Ford on top in the first hour, the #19 Penrite Mustang soared to the top before the second stoppage of the morning, albeut by just 0.0099s.

The big movers in the second hour were Ford runners Payne and Aaron Cameron, who both put themselves right up towards the pointy end.

Cameron made it two Blanchard Racing Team Mustangs in the top five as he leapt up from ninth to fifth off the back of a 1:00.7644s.

However, reigning Bathurst champion Payne brought himself right to the top with a 1:00.5080s, taking over from Brown before more gravel debris at the final corner triggered a red flag at the one hour, 41 minute mark.

Cameron's teammate James Golding improved to fourth with a 1:00.6348s before the third red flag was triggered at the two hour, 15 minute mark.

Heading into the final two hours, rookies Zach Bates and Jayden Ojeda were third and fifth, sandwiching Golding.

Golding escaped the hairiest moment of all through the first two hours, catching air in his #7 CoolDrive Ford Mustang after short-cutting the short circuit section.

As ever with testing, teams were working through teething problems. Notably, the #8 R&J Batteries Toyota GR Supra of Andre Heimgartner had completed only eight laps through two hours with a suspected electrical issue.

Conversely, at the time of the third stoppage, the #777 PremiAir Chevrolet of Declan Fraser had completed a session-high 50 laps of the 2.8km Druitt Circuit.

At the time of the third stoppage, reigning champion Chaz Mostert sat 14th, one position behind rival Broc Feeney.