Van Gisbergen on top in Newcastle Practice 2

SHANE van Gisbergen edged Will Davison to the fastest time in Practice 2 at the Thrifty Newcastle 500 as two of Supercars’ heavyweight teams flexed their muscles.

Triple Eight star van Gisbergen topped the second of three 45-minute sessions for the day, having been a quiet 11^th in Practice 1.

Opening session pacesetter Andre Heimgartner made a strong start to the second hitout; clocking 1:11.9836s within the first five minutes of the second session to set the early pace.

That was not bettered until Will Davison improved to 1:11.7929s at the 20-minute mark, before van Gisbergen shaved that down to 1:11.7555s eight minutes later.

The Kiwi’s time stood for the duration of a session in which many teams attempted longer runs and practiced pitstops.

Davison was still closest to van Gisbergen’s marker when the chequered flag flew, while Broc Feeney made it two Triple Eight Camaros in the top three.

Chaz Mostert set the fourth fastest time shortly after spending time in the garage with a troublesome wheel nut.

Heimgartner’s early time ended up fifth ahead of Team 18 pair Scott Pye and Mark Winterbottom, Anton De Pasquale, Cam Waters and James Courtney.

That first car-to-car contact of the Gen3 era belonged to the Blanchard Racing Team’s Todd Hazelwood and the driver who replaced him at Matt Stone Racing, Cameron Hill.

Hazelwood nudged the back of the Truck Assist Camaro at the Turn 11 hairpin midway through the session as the pair battled for clear track.

A third 45-minute practice will round out the day’s Supercars track action later this afternoon.

RESULTS: Practice 2, Thrifty Newcastle 500