Bathurst 1000: Reynolds stuns McLaughlin to top Practice 3
A last-gasp lap from Erebus driver David Reynolds beat what looked to be an insurmountable time from Scott McLaughlin in Practice 3 at Mount Panorama, as the times dipped under the 2m06s marker.
David Reynolds, Erebus Motorsport Holden
Dirk Klynsmith
McLaughlin made a fast start to the final hour-long session of the day, charging into the sixes before anyone else with a 2m06.847s right on 10 minutes.
But it was his lap nine minutes later that really raised eyebrows, McLaughlin not just dipping into the fives for the first time, but banking a 1m05.127s – which left him 1.39s clear of the field at that point.
It wasn’t until inside the last four minutes that anyone else could break into the fives. It was Jamie Whincup who went first with a 2m05.618s, before Garth Tander – who was quickest in the first sector – slotted into second with a 2m05.490s.
But it was Reynolds who stunned the field with his final run, toppling everyone with a remarkable 2m05.093s – 0.03s clear of McLaughlin.
“I gave a little bit away across the top and did a bad job somewhere, but that’s what practice is about,” said Reynolds.
“My car has performed really well today. It’s good to be on Thursday ‘pole’. It’s looking pretty racey out there time-wise, to roll out this sort of speed this early on is pretty good.”
Fabian Coulthard capped off a strong day for DJR Team Penske with the third, jumping up the order on his final run with a 2m05.399s.
Tander slotted into fourth, ahead of Whincup and Nick Percat. Mark Winterbottom made late gains to dip into the fives and finish up seventh fastest, ahead of Prodrive teammate Jason Bright and HSV Racing’s Scott Pye – the last of the drivers to record a time in the fives.
Reigning Bathurst champion Will Davison was best of those still in the sixes, finishing the session 10th fastest.
Shane van Gisbergen finished the session with a bent Red Bull Holden after hitting the wall on the way out of The Dipper.
Having struggled through today’s first two sessions, the #97 Red Bull Holden finally showed some pace in the third session. Van Gisbergen was even briefly fastest, going top with a pair of mid-2m06s on 15 minutes.
But on the half-way mark it all came crashing down, van Gisbergen clattering into the wall in a similar way to Tim Slade and Richard Muscat earlier in the day.
It ended van Gisbergen’s day on the spot, and led to the first red flag of the session.
The second red flag came with 12 minutes to go, when Simona de Silvestro rolled to a stop towards the end of Conrod Straight.
Cla | # | Driver | Car | Time | Gap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | David Reynolds Luke Youlden |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'05.0932 | |
2 | 17 | Alexandre Prémat Scott McLaughlin |
Ford Falcon FG-X | 2'05.1276 | 0.0344 |
3 | 12 | Tony D'Alberto Fabian Coulthard |
Ford Falcon FG-X | 2'05.3279 | 0.2347 |
4 | 33 | Garth Tander James Golding |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'05.4902 | 0.3970 |
5 | 88 | Jamie Whincup Paul Dumbrell |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'05.6187 | 0.5255 |
6 | 8 | Nick Percat Macauley Jones |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'05.7945 | 0.7013 |
7 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom Dean Canto |
Ford Falcon FG-X | 2'05.8420 | 0.7488 |
8 | 56 | Jason Bright Garry Jacobson |
Ford Falcon FG-X | 2'05.8841 | 0.7909 |
9 | 2 | Warren Luff Scott Pye |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'05.9818 | 0.8886 |
10 | 19 | Jonathon Webb Will Davison |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'06.0245 | 0.9313 |
11 | 888 | Steven Richards Craig Lowndes |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'06.0549 | 0.9617 |
12 | 22 | James Courtney Jack Perkins |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'06.0654 | 0.9722 |
13 | 20 | Todd Kelly Jack Le Brocq |
Nissan Altima | 2'06.1414 | 1.0482 |
14 | 99 | Dale Wood Chris Pither |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'06.2260 | 1.1328 |
15 | 6 | Richie Stanaway Cameron Waters |
Ford Falcon FG-X | 2'06.2355 | 1.1423 |
16 | 34 | James Moffat Richard Muscat |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'06.2358 | 1.1426 |
17 | 23 | Michael Caruso Dean Fiore |
Nissan Altima | 2'06.3242 | 1.2310 |
18 | 18 | Lee Holdsworth Karl Reindler |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'06.3621 | 1.2689 |
19 | 15 | Rick Kelly David Wall |
Nissan Altima | 2'06.4331 | 1.3399 |
20 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen Matt Campbell |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'06.4469 | 1.3537 |
21 | 55 | Steven Owen Chaz Mostert |
Ford Falcon FG-X | 2'06.4972 | 1.4040 |
22 | 21 | Tim Blanchard Todd Hazelwood |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'07.0877 | 1.9945 |
23 | 78 | Simona de Silvestro David Russell |
Nissan Altima | 2'07.5211 | 2.4279 |
24 | 3 | Aaren Russell Taz Douglas |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'08.5739 | 3.4807 |
25 | 62 | Alex Davison Alex Rullo |
Holden Commodore VF | 2'09.4152 | 4.3220 |
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