PremiAir rookie Ojeda paces opening Melbourne practice

Rookies have led the opening session of the 2026 Melbourne SuperSprint, with PremiAir Racing rising star Jayden Ojeda topping the first of two practice sessions at Albert Park.

Fords initially dominated the 30 minute hit out, with Shell V-Power Racing Team teenager Rylan Gray leading seven Mustangs into the closing seconds. However, armed with fresh tyres, the Camaro of Ojeda proved fastest of all.

Team 18 driver Anton De Pasquale made it a Chevrolet one-two, with Gray third.

Ojeda's flyer was on par with the fastest time in the corresponding session from 2025, a 1:47.8s by Ryan Wood, despite drivers being greeted by dirty track conditions.

It was feast and famine for PremiAir, though, with Declan Fraser pulling his car over on the back straight. Fraser later reported to Supercars.com that his #777 Camaro was nursing a suspected ECU issue, claiming his car was repeatedly "cutting out."

"Busy Thursday for us, so always good to start with a bit of speed in the car," Ojeda told the broadcast.

"For sure, being a rookie and getting the additional set of tyres help. It’s a massive step in learning these cars, so it’s really appreciated by Supercars.

"Unfamiliar with this configuration. I raced here in Formula 4 in 2019 but other than that a Supercar rookie."

The 24-car field rolled out under sunny skies in Melbourne, albeit on a dirty track. The preceding Porsche Carrera Cup Australia session was suspended in the opening minutes, meaning opening Supercars practice was the first session in anger on the 5.28km circuit.

Reigning Supercars champion Chaz Mostert was fastest through the opening runs with a 1:50.4504s before attention turned to the smoking Camaro of Cooper Murray, who came into the paddock. Replays showed smoke emanating from the #99 TotalEnergies Chevrolet through Turn 8.

James Golding found the gravel at Turn 10, but safely rejoined the session. Later, though, the Blanchard Racing Team driver nearly pushed the limit too far at Turn 8, clouting the concrete wall with his #7 CoolDrive Mustang.

Andre Heimgartner, meanwhile, bowled a wide through the Turn 9/10 chicane, and shortcut the escape road in his #800 R&J Batteries Toyota.

Kai Allen and Cameron Hill jumped into the 1:49s on their third laps, with Bathurst champion Matt Payne lowering the number to a 1:48.4863s before cars returned to pit lane.

The balance of the field reemerged with 14 minutes remaining, with Brodie Kostecki resetting the benchmark to a 1:49.3149s. Golding, who survived his earlier skirmish, jumped to third with a 1:49.5923s with seven minutes to go.

Erebus Motorsport turned around fast repairs on the #99 Camaro to hand crucial track time to Murray with five minutes left on the clock. The Victorian quickly moved up to 15th, albeit 0.92s behind Kostecki.

Into the closing minutes, Red Bull Ampol Racing star Will Brown moved the number to a 1:49.1099s, before Gray nailed a 1:49.0823s to displace the two time defending Larry Perkins Trophy winner.

Ojeda, though, put over a second on the field before De Pasquale closed the margin as chequered flags flew.

Gray, Brown, Golding, Kostecki, Thomas Randle, Broc Feeney, Cam Waters and Payne rounded out the top 10. Allen was 11th, avoiding a tangle with De Pasquale's teammate David Reynolds on the run to the penultimate corner.

Fraser was classified 24th and last, with Murray 19th. Rookies Zach Bates, Jobe Stewart and Jackson Walls filled positions 21 through 23.

Supercars drivers return to the track for Practice 2 at 12:25pm local time, followed by dual Boost Mobile Qualifying sessions from 2:20pm.