Albert Park Supercars: McLaughlin fastest in final practice

Anton De Pasquale was the early pacesetter with a 1m56.414s, before the Shell Mustangs took over from the eight-minute mark onwards.

It was Fabian Coulthard that lowered the benchmark first with a 1m55.957s, that time bested by teammate McLaughlin's 1m55.851s at the mid-way point of the session.

The pre-qualifying Happy Hour started with three minutes to go, De Pasquale going quickest with a 1m55.456s.

The Erebus driver was immediately swamped by Chaz Mostert and Jamie Whincup, who went first and second with a 1m55.171s and 1m55.353s respectively.

David Reynolds and Cam Waters both had cracks at top spot right on the flag, the Tickford driver going closest with a time less than a tenth shy of Mostert.

McLaughlin then bulldozed his way to the top to the tune of six-tenths with a 1m54.551s right at the death, Coulthard only able to close the gap to two-tenths on his qualifying sim lap.

Mostert slipped back to third thanks to the Penske Fords' late improvement, followed by Waters, Reynolds and Whincup.

Nick Percat ended up seventh in the late rush despite complaining of a faulty dash, De Pasquale was eighth, and Tickford pair Lee Holdsworth and Will Davison rounded out the Top 10.

Shane van Gisbergen was outside the first 10 for a second session running, the Kiwi just 20th despite getting a full session of running under his belt.

Cla	#	Driver	Car	Time	Gap
1	17	Scott McLaughlin	Ford Mustang GT	1'54.5518
2	12	Fabian Coulthard	Ford Mustang GT	1'54.7700	0.2182
3	55	Chaz Mostert	Ford Mustang GT	1'55.1711	0.6193
4	6	Cameron Waters	Ford Mustang GT	1'55.2463	0.6945
5	9	David Reynolds	Holden Commodore ZB	1'55.2721	0.7203
6	88	Jamie Whincup	Holden Commodore ZB	1'55.3531	0.8013
7	8	Nick Percat	Holden Commodore ZB	1'55.4359	0.8841
8	99	Anton De Pasquale	Holden Commodore ZB	1'55.4566	0.9048
9	5	Lee Holdsworth	Ford Mustang GT	1'55.4860	0.9342
10	23	Will Davison	Ford Mustang GT	1'55.5142	0.9624
11	15	Rick Kelly	Nissan Altima L33	1'55.6807	1.1289
12	22	James Courtney	Holden Commodore ZB	1'55.7836	1.2318
13	2	Scott Pye	Holden Commodore ZB	1'55.9507	1.3989
14	7	Andre Heimgartner	Nissan Altima L33	1'55.9695	1.4177
15	14	Tim Slade	Holden Commodore ZB	1'56.0009	1.4491
16	18	Mark Winterbottom	Holden Commodore ZB	1'56.1073	1.5555
17	3	Garry Jacobson	Nissan Altima L33	1'56.1124	1.5606
18	33	Richie Stanaway	Holden Commodore ZB	1'56.1329	1.5811
19	34	James Golding	Holden Commodore ZB	1'56.3294	1.7776
20	97	Shane van Gisbergen	Holden Commodore ZB	1'56.3716	1.8198
21	35	Todd Hazelwood	Holden Commodore ZB	1'56.6052	2.0534
22	78	Simona de Silvestro	Nissan Altima L33	1'57.2360	2.6842
23	21	Macauley Jones	Holden Commodore ZB	1'57.3477	2.7959
24	19	Jack Le Brocq	Holden Commodore ZB	1'57.7052	3.1534