Upstart V8 Supercars youngster Cameron Waters has taken the honours among co-drivers in practice for the Sandown 500.

Waters, 21, steered the Falcon he shares with fellow young gun Chaz Mostert to the top of the timing charts with a 1:09.9067 lap on Friday.

Earlier, Mostert was second-fastest behind reigning champion Jamie Whincup in practice for championship drivers.

Waters said he was enjoying the speed of the series-leading Prodrive Falcon.

“To go quickest is pretty cool but Sunday is the day you want to be quickest,” he said.

“It’s awesome … hopefully we can press on.”

Whincup, who recorded the fastest Friday time of 1:09.5169, prevented a Ford lockout at the top of the timing charts among regular series drivers.

Behind the Red Bull Racing man finished Mostert, 2015 championship leader Mark Winterbottom, David Reynolds and Scott Pye.

Whincup struggled for traction through the session and had two visits off the track at turn one across the session.

But the 2014 Sandown winner was able to put together the quickest trip around the 3.1-kilometre circuit for a good confidence boost at the first endurance race meet of the year.

His returning co-driver Paul Dumbrell wasn’t far off the pace, finishing fourth in the first of two practice sessions for co-drivers on Friday.

Chris Pither was second quickest of co-drivers in the No.34 Volvo he shares with Scott McLaughlin.

Russell Ingall, deputising for the injured James Courtney, finished 21st.