BNT V8 SuperTourer’s newest star, Shane van Gisbergen, was straight into the groove in the first unofficial practice session of the 2013 season, topping the times after the second one hour phase.
His 1.04.082 lap in the MPC run Ford V8ST was just under half a second ahead of Ant Pedersen in the International Motorsport car, who was just a couple of hundredths faster than a resurgent John McIntyre.
Ruapuna race winner Daniel Gaunt was fourth quickest and Jonny Reid ran well in a run in Craig Baird’s United Video Ford V8ST to clock the fifth fastest time. Andy Booth was sixth, Andre Heimgartner seventh and new boy Dominic Storey a very promising eighth in the ex-JMR Richards car, now looking sensational in iSport racing colours.
Angus Fogg and Greg Murphy rounded out the top ten on a day when most eyes were on SVG and the two other new drivers – Storey and new recruit from the V8 Supercar development series Ashley Walsh.
Walsh put in a good show on his circuit and V8ST debut, building up speed over the two sessions run today to end up sixteenth fastest on a 1.05.484.
