Brock fires first shot as Supercars weekend underway

09 September 2022 / Events

Brock Gilchrist signalled his intent for the Supercars weekend ahead with fastest time in the opening practice session of the non-championship Toyota 86 round at Pukekohe Park this morning.

Gilchrist, who lowered the lap record at Hampton Downs in testing recently, was quickly on the pace and left the first Pukekohe practice mark at 1 minute 16.7 seconds, just shy of two tenths ahead of Zac Stichbury.

Former champion Callum Hedge was quickly into the groove on his return to the category and clocked the third fastest time just a fraction ahead of Toyota 86 Championship regular Justin Allen. Allen dominated at the previous visit to the circuit by the category, and is one of the hot favourites this weekend.

Another former champion, Peter Vodanovich, completed the top five in an impressive return to the track. It’s his first race weekend of 2022 and the others will be watching him very closely as he continues to blow the cobwebs out.

Clay Osborne, a rookie in last season's Toyota 86 Championship, was an impressive sixth fastest ahead of series regulars and Pukekohe experts John Penny and Christina Orr-West. An impressive Tayler Bryant - making his return to the category after a one year break - and Dion Pitt completed the top ten runners.

There is one more practice session today before qualifying later in the afternoon. The weather has been kind to the drivers so far and there is little or no rain likely during the Toyota 86 drivers remaining sessions today.

Toyota 86 - Supercars event - Practice 1