Richards leads first Surfers practice

The FPR driver recorded a best lap of 1m13.0720s, to put his Falcon at the head of the times, almost 0.2 seconds up on the sister car of team-mate Mark Winterbottom. Jamie Whincup was third and the quickest Holden driver for 888, just ahead of series points leader James Courtney (Ford).

Multiple World Touring Car Championship title-winner Andy Priaulx was the quickest of the superstar invitees, recording a fastest time of 1m14.5802s in his 888 Holden.

The Briton had been fastest in the mid-week acclimatisation session and carried that form over with a time that would have put him 24th in the session for the series regulars.

Sebastien Bourdais was next up, just 0.15s back in his Dick Johnson Falcon. Will Power (Ford), Alex Tagliani (Holden) and Dario Franchitti (Ford) completed the top five.

Ex-Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve was sixth in his Ford, and just 1.5s covered the field, with former F1 podium finisher Tiago Monteiro propping up the list on a 1m16.1719 in his Holden.

IndyCar star Helio Castroneves was heading the times when he understeered off at the 90-degree left hander, Falken corner, and damaged the right front of his Falcon. Grand-Am champion Scott Pruett was worse off, not taking part in the session at all after team-mate Mark Noske wrecked their Holden in the previous session.