Mostert blitzes first Bathurst 12 Hour practice

SUPERCARS star Chaz Mostert led a one-two for Pro-Am Audi entries in opening practice for the Bathurst 12 Hour at Mount Panorama.

The 40-minute session ended with Mostert’s #65 Melbourne Performance Centre Audi quickest from the #55 Schumacher/PremiAir Racing-run entry driven by Frédéric Vervisch.

Vervisch spent the entire session in the car he shares with owner Brad Schumacher and James Golding, setting his best of 2:04.3509s 16 minutes in.

UNDER THREAT: Bathurst lap records on the chopping block

ENTRY LIST: Every car and driver in the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour

SCHEDULE: Bathurst 12 Hour track schedule for every category

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Mostert took over the #65 from Fraser Ross halfway through the session, eclipsing Vervisch on his penultimate lap before improving further to 2:04.0879s with his final effort.

Next was a surprise packet; Tony D’Alberto put the Wall Racing Lamborghini Huracan third fastest with a 2:04.4467s in the closing stages.

Fourth was the first Pro Class car, the #912 Manthey EMA Porsche which was driven to a 2:04.5499s best by Matt Campbell before he handed over to co-driver Thomas Preining.

The #75 SunEnergy1 Mercedes entry that won last year’s race placed fifth ahead of the #99 Triple Eight Pro-Am Mercedes shared in the session by Jamie Whincup and Richie Stanaway.

Team WRT’s BMWs ended up seventh (#32) and 16^th (#46).

Star attraction Valentino Rossi did not turn laps in the session but is expected to run in Practice 2 and 3, which is open to Bronze drivers and Silver-rated rookies.

Practice 1 was held in cool but sunny conditions and ran green for its entire 40-minute duration.

RESULTS: Practice 1, Bathurst 12 Hour (40 min)