Volvo youngster Scott McLaughlin set the benchmark during practice for this weekend’s V8 Supercars round in Perth with a flying lap in Friday’s second 20-minute session.

McLaughlin was the only driver to post a time under 56 seconds at Barbagallo Raceway, bettering David Reynolds’ Ford, Holden driver Fabian Coulthard and championship leader Mark Winterbottom.

Five-time defending champion Jamie Whincup was more than one second off the pace in 22nd, ahead of teammate Craig Lowndes in 23rd.

It followed a similarly disappointing morning for the Red Bull-backed Holden outfit, with Whincup finishing the opening session 24th and Lowndes in 19th.

Whincup won two of last year’s three races at the Western Australian circuit and is hoping history repeats itself after poor showings last round in Auckland and earlier at Winton.

At 166 points adrift of Winterbottom, it’s the furthest behind the championship leader he has been since September 2010 – the year he lost the title to James Courtney.

Lowndes is also looking to bounce back in Perth, having relinquished his title lead to Winterbottom a fortnight ago in Auckland.

He now sits 107 points behind the reigning Bathurst winner.

A win in either of Saturday’s two 100km sprints or Sunday’s longer 200km race would see Lowndes break Mark Skaife’s all-time record for most victories at a single track, given his previous 14 triumphs.

A third and final practice session is scheduled for 4.05pm (AEST) on Friday.