Tim Slade fastest in disrupted Thursday test

Stone Brothers Racing driver Tim Slade was the fastest driver in the wet first two practice sessions at Mount Panorama, whilst low visibility issues saw the third session scrapped altogether, with times over 17 seconds slower than last year.

Slade’s best lap in the SBR Ford Falcon FG was a 2:24.226 in the first session, whilst team-mate Daniel Gaunt was 26th in the second session which was for co-drivers only with a 2:33.858.

Most of the best times came in the first session in which some teams used to run both of their drivers, whilst others just ran the full-time driver.

Slade’s SBR team-mate Shane van Gisbergen was second fastest, with Dick Johnson Racing’s James Moffat making at all an Ford top three.

The top placed Holden was that of reigning champion James Courtney & Cameron McConville in fourth in the Holden Racing Team Commodore.

Of the Triple Eight pairing, Craig Lowndes was the fastest in 16th whilst Jamie Whincup & Andrew Thompson were 21st.

The heavy weather has seen excessive demand for the Dunlop Wet Weather tyre on just the first day, which has seen the tyre manufacturer restrict supply for the rest of the weekend with teams now having to be careful with their usage.

The next practice session is on Friday at 9:25 local time (Thursday 23:25 BST).