Six-time series champion Jamie Whincup has made his intentions clear by topping the first practice session of the Supercars season opener in Adelaide on Friday.
Whincup clocked one minute, 20.40 seconds – just 0.03 of a second outside the practice record on the demanding street circuit.
All eyes were on the Holden star to see how he would respond in 2017 after teammate Shane van Gisbergen stole the limelight by claiming a maiden Supercars series win last year.
And the Red Bull Racing star didn’t disappoint, topping the field ahead of van Gisbergen who clocked 1:20.52 in his final lap of the opening 40 minute session.
Nissan’s Ricky Kelly (1:20.58) was third quickest.
Van Gisbergen holds the current practice record (1:20.37), set in 2014.
That milestone looks set to fall during the next practice session ahead of Friday’s qualifying for Saturday’s opening 250km race.
All lap records are considered under threat this year after Dunlop introduced a faster – yet durable – soft compound tyre in 2017.
Former Volvo gun Scott McLaughlin was fourth fastest (1:20.65) in an encouraging start to his much anticipated stint with Ford powerhouse DJR Team Penske.
The Ford flagship are expected to threaten the dominance of Red Bull Racing who have claimed five of the last six drivers’ championships.
Simona de Silvestro – the first Supercars full-time female driver – was second last in the 26-strong field after some anxious moments on turn four in the session.
She spun off the track at the turn but quickly recovered just before van Gisbergen made the same mistake on the tight circuit.
“It reminds me a lot of my IndyCar days,” de Silvestro said of the track.
“I still have to learn a bit how to ride the kerbs as in these cars you can really hammer them and to me that doesn’t feel normal.
“But I think it was okay, I learned a lot.
“It is tight out there so I think qualifying and putting a lap together is going to be pretty intense.”
Perth high school student Alex Rullo – the youngest ever Supercars driver at 16 – was last in the field.
He had limited time on the track after his Holden developed a seat vibration drama.
The next 40 minute practice session starts at 12 noon AEDT.
Qualifying will be held at 4.20pm AEDT.
