Allen on top in intense final Townsville practice

Kai Allen has finished on top of the timesheets in the final Dunlop Series practice session of the weekend on the streets of Townsville.

The Eggleston Motorsport driver set a 1:14.7195s on his final qualifying simulation to put just over a tenth of a second ahead of impressive Tickford rookie Rylan Gray.

The session began with a few spots of rain noticeable around the Reid Park precinct, with the session declared wet prior to its commencement.

Anderson Motorsport got Max Vidau’s Mustang repaired after his accident in Practice 1, giving the young South Australian some valuable track time, ending up 17th.

Much like Practice 1, Zach Bates laid down an impressive marker in his opening run, setting a 1:15.7060 to be the only driver in the 1:15s bracket.

Times were around a second slower than the morning practice session, as teams completed race runs with stronger winds blowing around Reid Park.

It would take almost another 20 minutes for another driver to dip into the 1:15s range, with Cooper Murray slotting into second on a 1:15.9630s on the final lap of a longer run.

Dean Fiore, standing in for Jett Johnson at AIM Motorsport this weekend, was the next to jump into the 1:15s range to go second on a 1:15.9382s.

With 15 minutes left in the session, the qualifying simulations began, with the Kelly Racing Mustangs of Aaron Cameron and Mason Kelly the first drivers to put green tyres on.

The Erebus Academy Commodore of Jobe Stewart was the first to dip into the 1:14s range, the reigning Super3 champion setting a 1:14.9045s, which was quickly usurped by reigning Super2 champion Allen.

Allen set a 1:14.8735s to put just over a tenth and a half on Stewart, before further improving to a 1:14.7972s.

Bates and Allen’s Eggleston teammate also found their ways back to the top end of the timesheets, Bates only half a tenth behind Allen, whilst Murray was on track to go fastest before running through the chicane at turns seven and eight.

Gray then jumped to second on a 1:14.8337s with three and a half minutes left in the session, before Allen went faster again on his second qualifying simulation.

In the final rundown, Allen would lead Gray, Bates, Stewart and Murray, with Cameron Crick making it three Eggleston Commodores in the top six.

The top ten was rounded out by Jack Perkins, Cody Gillis, Cameron, and the fourth Eggleston Commodore of Jordyn Sinni.

Thomas Maxwell ensured he swept the Friday Super3 sessions, piloting his MW Motorsport Nissan to 14th outright on a 1:15.3889s.

The Dunlop Series takes to the Townsville Street Circuit tomorrow morning at 9:45am for a revamped Boost Mobile Qualifying format.

All 25 Dunlop Series entries will take to Reid Park for a single 20-minute session, as opposed to the split sessions run at Bathurst and Perth.