Feeney fastest in tight opening Sandown practice

Broc Feeney has topped opening practice at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 as co-drivers turned in some laps ahead of the first enduro of the year.

The first of four 30-minute practice sessions was held in sunshine in Melbourne, with the field from putting down some quick times at Sandown.

Feeney’s 1:09.2966s proved best of the lot aboard his #88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro, which he his sharing with five-time Sandown 500 winner Jamie Whincup.

It was a Chevrolet top four all told, but with some new names towards the top. The Brodie Kostecki/David Russell Erebus Motorsport entry, was just 0.0078s off the top.

Kostecki clocked a 1:09.3044s as the session wore on in the #99 Coca-Cola Camaro, with Dylan O’Keeffe third in James Golding’s #31 Nulon Camaro.

Macauley Jones’ 1:09.3240s had the #96 Pizza Hut Chevrolet third at session’s end, with co-driver Jordan Boys behind the wheel.

The Cam Waters/James Moffat #6 Monster Energy Mustang was first Ford home in fifth, with the top drivers separated by nothing.

The top seven cars were covered by just 0.0793s, with the Shane van Gisbergen/Richie Stanaway and Will Brown/Jack Perkins cars sixth and seventh.

Feeney, who is third in the championship after eight rounds, set his benchmark time just prior to the halfway mark before handing over to co-driver Whincup for the final minutes.

Primary drivers opened proceedings when pit lane opened at 10:45am local time, with Jones fastest after the first flyers on a 1:10.4106s.

Tim Slade (#23 Nulon Camaro) took over top spot with a 1:09.6988s, and later improved to a 1:09.4036s on his third flyer. Jones, however, regained top spot with a 1:09.3327s ahead van Gisbergen, who clocked a 1:09.3701s.

On the second runs, van Gisbergen’s teammates Feeney went fastest with a 1:09.2966s, with Golding jumping to second with a 1:09.3240s on his third run.

The margin between the top two was just 0.0274s and was narrowed to 0.0078s as Kostecki closed in with five minutes remaining.

Co-drivers were the flavour of the final minutes, with Feeney hanging onto top spot to draw first blood at the historic Melbourne venue.

The Slade/Jonathon Webb entry was eighth ahead of Mark Winterbottom/Michael Caruso (#18 DEWALT Camaro) and Matt Payne/Kevin Estre (#19 Penrite Mustang).

The session ran green for its entirety, with Feeney’s time some 1.5s slower than the time set in the corresponding 2022 session by Shell V-Power Racing Team driver Will Davison.

Co-drivers will return to the track for Practice 2 at 12:40pm AEST.