Nine’s Wide World of Sports
Sunday's Bathurst 1000 will have its latest-ever start time, with the 161-lap race set to begin at 11:45 am (AEDT).
The undercut in the pits was huge for Triple Eight. Jamie Whincup came in behind Car No.38 and made the position by fuelling the car significantly less, and the No.88 car has jumped into the lead.
Broc Feeney now leads from Hazelwood by five seconds. But this fuel strategy will mean they have to pit earlier.
Rain is falling and spots can be seen on the windscreen of the cars on track at the moment, it's well and truly on its way. Wipers are being turned on by drivers.
Cam Waters said in the garage, he would "prefer" to be in the one driving when it starts falling.
Spots of rain reach Mount Panorama. FOX Sports
"Obviously, there's rain on its way, and I'd probably prefer to be in the car if it rains, but if it does rain now, it's not the end of the world," he told Fox Sports' broadcast.
"For us, we've got a lot of experience, so we're OK."
"We're struggling a little bit at the end…and we're absolutely terrible down the straights as you can see here."
Moderate rain is heading towards Bathurst. Bureau of Meteorology
Scott Pye has been impressive in this first stint, hunting for track position.
As his co-driver jumped in, Pye had moved the Triple Eight Camaro into sixth from his starting position of 12th.
After a little mistake with the belts for Brown, he was released onto the track in sixteenth.
Todd Hazelwood, who is leading from Cooper Murray in second by 1.6 seconds had a nasty slide on Lap 21, dipping two wheels off the track.
A nasty slide there," Crompton exclaimed on Fox Sports' broadcast.
On Lap 20, Tickford Racing's Thomas Randle is in the No.55 Ford; James Moffat is out.
In the lane, the No.19 Camaro of Bryce Fullwood and Brad Vaughan has not rejoined the field.
Instead it remains in the garage, with media reporting that the crew has admitted that second and fourth gear can't be engaged.
It was also dumping oil everywhere on the Main Straight.
Scott Pye has moved himself into ninth with a beautiful move down the inside of Tim Slade out of the first corner.
He's moved the Triple Eight drive up three spots from where they started in 12th and hunting more positions.
He was the fastest driver in both co-driver only practices during the weekend.
Car No.99 is the first on the track to report rain on the windscreen.
A 'reliable source' to the Fox Sports broadcast at the top of the hill said it's spitting at Skyline.
Could this weather shake up the order?
10 laps down at Mount Panorama, and Todd Hazelwood is driving the No.38 Ford Mustang with absolute precision.
On the opening laps, Crompton was impressed, saying that "Todd [was] positioning the car like this is a qualifying session."
Mark Winterbottom slotted in behind him, with Cooper Murray, Jayden Ojeda and Jamie Whincup rounding the top five.
The opening laps have seen a cluster of Supercars in the field, commentators arguing that the drivers need to keep "cool heads".
"Some serious racing here early," said Neil Crompton.
Rookie Cooper Murray has moved himself into third place but clipped the wall at the approach of turn three. Murray was heard on the radio saying he can "settle into a rhythm now".
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