Supercars Gold Coast, news, results: Randle, Waters, fastest with qualifying chaos on horizon

The streets of Surfers Paradise are set to serve up Supercars qualifying chaos this weekend after Friday’s pair of practice sessions were riddled with kerb strikes.

The streets of Surfers Paradise are set to serve up Supercars qualifying chaos this weekend after Friday’s pair of practice sessions were riddled with kerb strikes.

Tickford pair Thomas Randle and Cam Waters topped the time sheet in practice two ahead of Matt Payne, with Red Bull ace Broc Feeney running fourth ahead of teammate and championship leader Will Brown in sixth.

Randle’s blistering 1:10.376 was faster even than Waters’ Gen3 record-setting qualifying lap last year, when he clocked a 1:10.463 to take pole position for the Sunday race.

Waters set the early pace in the first practice session with a 1:11.397 ahead of Andre Heimgartner and James Courtney.

Tickford Ford drive Thomas Randle was the fastest driver on day one of the Gold Coast 500 Supercars, held at the Surfers Paradise street circuit. Picture: Brendan Radke

It was a statement showing from the Tickford team, who tasted success at the Gold Coast 500 last year with Waters and will fancy its chances of a repeat performance this weekend after setting the early pace in practice.

A staggering 246 kerb strikes were recorded in practice one as the 24-strong grid struggled to nail down the narrow margins required to put together a hot lap around the Surfers Paradise street circuit.

Sensors placed on the kerbs at turns two, seven, eight and nine are used to determine whether a driver has left the bounds of the racetrack. If the sensor detects a driver has cut too much of the kerb, their practice or qualifying lap is scrubbed out.

The turn nine sensor was turned off for the afternoon running and only 49 kerb strikes were recorded.

Red Bull Racing driver Broc Feeney. Picture: Brendan Radke

Last year, Feeney’s Saturday qualifying was cruelled by a kerb strike on his final flying lap which left him starting in 21st for the race that afternoon.

The current championship runner-up cannot afford a similar slip-up this weekend, otherwise his title hopes could go up in smoke.

The Red Bull garage had hearts in mouths when Brown kissed the barrier midway through the first practice session and lost a mirror for his troubles.

The last thing he and his team needed was a crash on the eve of what could be a title-winning weekend on the Gold Coast.

But his all-in approach to practice proved the championship leader would not limp his way to the finish line over the final two rounds of the season.

Brown could strike a defining blow in the championship battle by finishing on the podium on Saturday.

David Reynolds during the first practice session. Picture: Brendan Radke

EREBUS COPS FINE

Erebus Motorsport has been slapped with a $5000 fine after the team failed to open its garage doors for a pit lane function at the Gold Coast 500 on Thursday night.

All Supercars teams were required to open their garages to for a sponsors’ pit lane party from 4:30pm to 10pm on Thursday, however Motorsport Australian stewards received a photo taken at 7:45pm and video taken at 9:16pm which showed the Erebus garage had remained closed.

Erebus CEO Barry Ryan was summoned by the stewards and issued a please explain.

The Erebus team were “celebrating their Bathurst 1000 victory” when slapped with a fine for not opening its garage doors for a pit lane function. Picture: Getty Images

According to the stewards’ report, Ryan said the team was “concerned about the lack of adequate security arrangements for the garage when the equipment was going to be left unattended”.

Ryan explained the team had arranged a celebratory dinner for Thursday night after its Bathurst 1000 victory and “had a single person available to manage the promotional requirements”.

He accepted a fine was appropriate under the circumstances however requested the stewards consider suspending all or part of the fine.

However, the stewards found there were no “mitigating factors” and ruled that Erebus would have to pay the full $5000 fine.

Originally published as Supercars Gold Coast, news, results: Randle, Waters, fastest with qualifying chaos on horizon