V8 Supercar series leader Will Davison completed a flawless lap to shatter the practice record ahead of Saturday’s opening Hamilton 400 race.

Davison led a trio of Fords home in the final of four sessions at the tight street track, with Mark Winterbottom second quickest ahead of David Reynolds.

His time of one minute 21.79 seconds was a full second quicker than the previous record set by Holden’s Craig Lowndes last year.

Davison said the Ford Performance Racing drivers had pushed each other in ideal conditions.

“I think it was obviously just a good day,” Davison said.

“Everyone pushed the envelope and progressed things.”

However, he said the circuit was essentially the same as when Lowndes set his fast practice lap last season.

“To be honest the track’s not been resurfaced anywhere, there’s no widened areas.

“The chicane is still controlled by the timing loops but the grip level’s quite high and the chicane speeds are quite high – it’s pretty crazy through there.”

Davison said with his Falcon working perfectly he had the ability to reach for more speed.

“We’ve got to work hard. We’re still driving these things on the limit but when you get a good car and you seem to make the right adjustments and you understand the car well, you just get more confident.

“You can find that little bit more time when you know what the car is going to do.

“Conditions were quick today and our cars are just driving themselves around – it’s awesome,” he said.

Davison continues to battle with a back-related problem which causes his right foot to become numb during races but he said he was learning to live with the problem.

“I’m doing lots of things and it’s frustrating but I’ve learnt to deal with it now,” Davison said.

“Even when it’s really bad I can still seem to get podiums and stuff.

“It’s not an excuse at all but it does trouble me at times in the races for sure.”

He continues to alter arrangements in the car to try to combat the issue.

“I don’t want to harp on about it but I’ve made some changes this weekend, even in the sessions today,” he said.

“I was fiddling around with some ergonomics in the car, some brake stuff, positions, because I went out very uncomfortable with some of the changes we’d made back at the workshop.

“Let’s just hope that translates into the foot staying alive 20 or 30 laps into the race.”

Davison said the start to the New Zealand round could not have been better scripted.

“It’s an unbelievable start, a really big pat on the back for FPR,” Davison said.

“Today, no points, no glory but really this is testament to the car that they are supplying us all with.

“We’ve come a long way in 12 months. This wasn’t one of our best places last year.”