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Practice report

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

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.

ClaDriverCarTimeGap
1 9 australia  David Reynolds 
Luke Youlden 
Holden Commodore VF 2'05.0932  
2 17 france  Alexandre Prémat 
new_zealand  Scott McLaughlin 
Ford Falcon FG-X 2'05.1276 0.0344
3 12 Tony D'Alberto 
new_zealand  Fabian Coulthard 
Ford Falcon FG-X 2'05.3279 0.2347
4 33 australia  Garth Tander 
australia  James Golding 
Holden Commodore VF 2'05.4902 0.3970
5 88 australia  Jamie Whincup 
australia  Paul Dumbrell 
Holden Commodore VF 2'05.6187 0.5255
6 8 australia  Nick Percat 
australia  Macauley Jones 
Holden Commodore VF 2'05.7945 0.7013
7 5 australia  Mark Winterbottom 
australia  Dean Canto 
Ford Falcon FG-X 2'05.8420 0.7488
8 56 australia  Jason Bright 
australia  Garry Jacobson 
Ford Falcon FG-X 2'05.8841 0.7909
9 2 australia  Warren Luff 
australia  Scott Pye 
Holden Commodore VF 2'05.9818 0.8886
10 19 Jonathon Webb 
australia  Will Davison 
Holden Commodore VF 2'06.0245 0.9313
11 888 new_zealand  Steven Richards 
australia  Craig Lowndes 
Holden Commodore VF 2'06.0549 0.9617
12 22 australia  James Courtney 
australia  Jack Perkins 
Holden Commodore VF 2'06.0654 0.9722
13 20 australia  Todd Kelly 
australia  Jack Le Brocq 
Nissan Altima 2'06.1414 1.0482
14 99 australia  Dale Wood 
new_zealand  Chris Pither 
Holden Commodore VF 2'06.2260 1.1328
15 6 new_zealand  Richie Stanaway 
australia  Cameron Waters 
Ford Falcon FG-X 2'06.2355 1.1423
16 34 australia  James Moffat 
australia  Richard Muscat 
Holden Commodore VF 2'06.2358 1.1426
17 23 australia  Michael Caruso 
australia  Dean Fiore 
Nissan Altima 2'06.3242 1.2310
18 18 australia  Lee Holdsworth 
australia  Karl Reindler 
Holden Commodore VF 2'06.3621 1.2689
19 15 australia  Rick Kelly 
australia  David Wall 
Nissan Altima 2'06.4331 1.3399
20 97 new_zealand  Shane van Gisbergen 
australia  Matt Campbell 
Holden Commodore VF 2'06.4469 1.3537
21 55 australia  Steven Owen 
australia  Chaz Mostert 
Ford Falcon FG-X 2'06.4972 1.4040
22 21 australia  Tim Blanchard 
australia  Todd Hazelwood 
Holden Commodore VF 2'07.0877 1.9945
23 78 switzerland  Simona de Silvestro 
australia  David Russell 
Nissan Altima 2'07.5211 2.4279
24 3 australia  Aaren Russell 
australia  Taz Douglas 
Holden Commodore VF 2'08.5739 3.4807
25 62 australia  Alex Davison 
australia  Alex Rullo 
Holden Commodore VF 2'09.4152 4.3220

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