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Randle flyer puts BMW on top early – but V8’s are close
AN EARLY flyer from Supercars ace Thomas Randle has seen the Race for a Cure / Thryv BMW M2 Competition he shares with brothers Ben and Michael Kavich top the opening practice session for the 2026 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.
Randle’s 2m22.32s flyer came early in the second part of practice one, that saw the classes split between a pair of 40-minute outings to allow for less traffic as drivers got up to speed.
The #92 BMW topped the charts overall across a remarkably trouble-free session, while also topping the X / Ultimate Performance class as well.
Second was the returning Chevrolet Camaro of Chris Lillis, Zach Bates and Josh Muggleton.
Their flying 2m22.80s lap was the quickest ever by the Chevrolet product in Production Car trim and only 0.4s off the class A2 pole position record set last year.
Third was the Simon Hodges / Jayden Ojeda Secure Wealth BMW (2m23.04) while the leading Ford Mustang of Cooper Barnes, Trent Whyte and Bryce Fullwood – the latter setting the time -was fourth and second in Class A2.
Beric Lynton, Tim Leahey and Will Davison were fifth overall while the Tony Alford, Kyle Alford and Tim Slade continued the alternating X / A2 cars at the top by placing sixth aboard their Mustang, and third in class.
A2 cars completed the majority of the back half of the top 10; Keith Kassulke / Ryan McLeod were seventh, Tyler Mecklem and Hadrian Morrall eighth and defending A2 winners, Aaron Seton, Jason Gomersall and Ben Gomersall ninth.
Rounding out the top-10 was the Class X HSV GTS of Brock Giblin and Brandon Madden. Leading Class A1 was the Cem Yucel / Iain Salteri VW Golf, while the Bathurst-based Inwood crew were next – the class leaders 20th and 21st, respectively.
Broken into two, 40-minute halves to allow competitors to enjoy clearer track conditions and less traffic, the B1, B2, C, D and Class E cars were first out on the Mountain this morning.
A late 2m30.54 flyer from Tony Virag in his HSV saw the home-grown product and the Bathurst 6 Hour regular top the first half of the session and the B2 class, ending 23rd outright overall.
Virag will share the Commodore with Michael Ferns and Liam Evans this weekend.
His lap put him just under two seconds quicker than the B2 class leader and second-placed car from Team Buccini, the BMW of Courtney Prince, Tabitha Ambrose and Karlie Buccini leading the B1 runners with a 2m23.38s best.
Class C saw the Orange-based MWM Racing VW Golf R of Trevor and James Keene on top at a 2m36.30, while the #2 BMW of Andrew McMaster, Michael Hazelton and Richard Buttrose led the way in the race’s largest category in Class D. Their 2m38.84s best saw them top the charts comfortably.
The Class E pacesetter was the new-to-Bathurst Honda Accord Euro steered by Greg Boyle and Brett Stevens, who banked a 2m44.25s to top the baby car class.