Photo: V8 Supercars Media

Fabian Coulthard fastest in final practice session at Bathurst

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Brad Jones Racing driver Fabian Coulthard was fastest of all in the final practice session for this year’s Bathurst 1000, taking over at the top of the time sheets on his final run with a time of 2:05.2119, which could have been faster if it wasn’t for traffic at The Chase.

DJR Team Penske’s Scott Pye had led the way throughout much of the 40-minute practice session, and was the first driver to break under 2:06 in the session with a time of 2:05.5095, before he handed the Ford Falcon FG X over to co-driver Marcos Ambrose for the last 20 minutes.

Shane Van Gisbergen was the first driver to join him in the 2:05s, with the New Zealander setting a time of 2:05.7383 in his Tekno Autosports Holden.

At the end of the session, Coulthard aced every sector to put his BJR Holden Commodore VF fastest of all, despite catching Ash Walsh’s Erebus Mercedes E63 at The Chase which undoubtedly lost him time.

Prodrive Racing Australia’s Mark Winterbottom, in the only Pepsi Max Crew car following the withdrawal of Chaz Mostert, put in a late charge to go second fastest, just 0.1708 behind Coulthard’s time.

Reigning champion Jamie Whincup’s time of 2:04.9097 set yesterday in Practice 5 remains the weekend’s record so far.

There were relatively few dramas in the session. Ash Walsh spun his Mercedes at Hell with just over ten minutes to go and Lee Holdsworth went off in avoidance and clouted the barrier with his Charlie Schwerkolt Racing Holden, but was able to recover the car to the pits.

David Reynolds finished the session fifth in the Rod Nash Racing Ford Falcon FG X, with Jason Bright sixth in the second of the Brad Jones Racing cars.

Garth Tander was seventh in the #2 Holden Racing Team Commodore, just over a second off of Coulthard’s pace, with the Volvo of Scott McLaughlin, the Ford of Andre Heimgartner and the Nissan of James Moffat completing the top ten.

The best placed of the Triple Eight Holdens was Jamie Whincup in 18th with Craig Lowndes in 20th.

Qualifying is next up and takes place at 12:30 AEST.