McLaughlin edges Mostert in Practice 2

Scott McLaughlin led Chaz Mostert by just 0.0920s to top Practice 2 at the OTR SuperSprint on The Bend’s West Circuit.

Having split the ARMOR ALL Poles on the venue’s International layout a week ago – two to McLaughlin and one to Mostert – the duo are again the early pacesetters over one-lap.

After the end of Practice 1 was red-flagged, McLaughlin made his intentions clear from the start of the second 30-minute hitout, recording a 1:15.5208s on his first flying lap.

Mostert improved that benchmark to 1:15.4548s almost immediately, before McLaughlin returned serve with 1:15.2130s at the 10-minute mark.

McLaughlin moved the marker to 1:15.2014s just past halfway – a time that proved unbeatable for the duration, despite the Shell #17 twice attempting to go quicker again.

Asked about treating Practice 2 as a simulation for qualifying, McLaughlin said: “That’s one thing we have sort of brought on since Townsville.

“We need to get comfortable with our qualifying knowing that we need to qualify at the front and that’s half our job done.

“Overall, really happy. The car was really balanced. I’m really enjoying the new circuit, the West Circuit is enjoyable and is a new challenge so I’m excited.”

Mostert had a wild slide on the last corner of his final lap, failing to go faster.

“Just a little bit of frustration in that one,” he said of the moment.

“I didn’t quite have the tyre for the first half of the lap so I was still surprised to see the dash telling me that we were quicker.

“But practice is where you want to lay it all on the line, so I had a big dip at the last corner, it had a bit of a snap on exit for me and just went along the grass.

“You have got to learn these things in practice.”

Fabian Coulthard and Bryce Fullwood ended up third and fourth, ensuring the Shell V-Power and Walkinshaw Andretti United teams locked out the top spots.

The Commodores of Scott Pye, Anton De Pasquale, Nick Percat, Jamie Whincup and Todd Hazelwood filled fifth through ninth, with Andre Heimgartner’s Ford 10th.

Shane van Gisbergen managed just 17th, having locked up and speared off at Turn 11 late in the going – running through the gravel before rejoining undamaged.

ARMOR ALL Qualifying will take place from 12:55pm local time.