Campbell edges Gounon, Stanaway in Practice 5

Matt Campbell has fired the first shot on Bathurst 12 Hour Saturday with the fastest time in Practice 5.

Aussie star Campbell, the 2019 winner, clocked a 2:02.7513s in the closing minutes.

Campbell is sharing the #912 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3R with Mathieu Jaminet and Thomas Preining.

The 2020 pole-sitter pipped two-time 12 Hour winner Jules Gounon and debutant Richie Stanaway.

French driver Gounon led the running for much of the session aboard the #75 SunEnergy1 Mercedes-AMG.

Stanaway, driving with Jamie Whincup and Prince Jefri Ibrahim, slotted in just 0.0292s behind Gounon.

Practice 5 results

The top three were covered by 0.1061s, with the top eight covered by 0.8923s.

The session began in drama after a stoppage for Ross Poulakis (#101 Mercedes-AMG).

Poulakis was later penalised for ignoring red flags, with officials investigating the incident further.

When the session resumed, times quickly progressed, with Broc Feeney (#88 Mercedes-AMG) leading the way on a 2:04.4861s.

With 38 minutes remaining, Christopher Haase (#74 Audi) shot to the top on a 2:04.1543s.

Sheldon van der Linde (#32 BMW) and Frederic Vervisch (#55 Audi) slotted in just behind before the latter went faster.

Vervisch was first into the 2:03s on Saturday with a 2:03.9568s, but there was plenty more to come.

In a quick burst of times, Thomas Preining (#912 Porsche) went top on a 2:03.4562s ahead of Gounon and Whincup.

Gounon then turned up the wick and clocked a 2:02.8282s before handing over to Luca Stolz.

With 17 minutes remaining, Maro Engel fired the #999 GruppeM Mercedes-AMG to second on a 2:03.1815s.

Engel went on with it, going purple in the second sector, before pulling off to pit lane.

With 15 minutes remaining, Stanaway took over the #99 Boost Mobile Mercedes from Whincup.

On 12 Hour debut, Stanaway clocked the second 2:02s lap of the session with a 2:02.8574s, which was just 0.0292s from Gounon’s benchmark.

The cat among the pigeons was David Russell, who clocked a 2:03.4245s in the Silver-class #47 Audi.

The #74 Audi jumped to fourth late on with Patrick Niederhauser behind the wheel, with Raffaele Marciello aboard the #999.

With five minutes remaining, Campbell vaulted the Grello Porsche to the top on a 2:02.7513s, having set the fastest first sector.

Cars will return to the track for the hour-long Practice 6 at 10:50am local time.

Qualifying will commence at 12:45pm before the Pirelli Top 10 Shootout at 4:10pm.