REYNOLDS SURGE HAS RIVALS ON LOOKOUT
DAVE Reynolds predicted the Mount Panorama record could be broken this weekend after the Holden minnow turned giant-killer to beat Scott McLaughlin in an opening day Bathurst 1000 practice blitz.
Announcing himself as a shock contender for the season’s biggest race, the Erebus driver struck late to upstage DJR Team Penske hotshot McLaughlin by just 0.034 seconds.
Reynolds claimed he could have gone faster than his 2 minute 05.09 second lap to go within striking distance of Jamie Whincup’s 2015 record.
“Could’ve been achieved then I reckon,” Reynolds said.
“I gave a little bit away across the top, but that’s what practice is all about. It’s good to be here on Thursday pole.”
On an opening day where Tim Slade became Mount Panorama’s first victim with a nasty crash, Reynolds flew to show he could be a force.
The former Ford man is confident he and co-driver Luke Youlden can contend in the 1000km classic.
“Luke is a master at this track,’’ Reynolds said.
“It is his 18th year here and he knows it well and was on the pace straight away so we could not be more happy to do it as a pair and as a team together. As long as we keep our pace in the car and make our tyres last, don’t do anything stupid and have good pit stops then we will have a great Sunday.’’
Bathurst favourite Mclaughlin was the pacesetter until he was edged out by his Holden rival in a thrilling practice session finish.
“The car was good straight out of the box,’’ McLaughlin said.
“Towards the end of the session we tuned it away from where we were but Alex jumped in and tuned it up again. Straight away in that last session it felt good and nice to build-up from there.”