Practice 1: Old Guard rules

The defending Australian Touring Car Champion and current series leader waited until the final minute of practice to set a fastest lap of 2m10.36s to lead fellow veterans Glenn Seton and John Bowe.

But a potential controversy may affect Friday's qualifying session, with recent track resurfacing having effectively lowered the height of curbs around the 3.8-mile track. A number of drivers, Skaife included, have alerted officials that cars running over the 'new' kerbs may drag debris on the circuit's racing line. A meeting regarding the matter has been set for Friday morning.

Russell Ingall was fourth fastest in the session from the Greg Murphy/Todd Kelly Holden and the Paul Radisich/Steven Johnson Ford, while defending race winners Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna were next in their Holden.

The internationals in the race had mixed results, John Cleland setting 12thfastest time in Brad Jones's Holden, but last-minute call-up Ashley Stichbury backed Paul Morris's Holden into the wall at The Cutting after a suspension failure.

Friday will feature another practice session of 60 minutes before the 41-car field is split in two for the afternoon qualifying sessions.

Mark Skaife/Tony Longhurst (Holden) 2m10.36s
Glenn Seton/Steven Richards (Ford) 2m11.18s
John Bowe/Simon Wills (Ford) 2m11.49s
Russell Ingall/Larry Perkins (Holden) 2m11.82s
Greg Murphy/Todd Kelly (Holden) 2m12.19s
Steven Johnson/Paul Radisich (Ford) 2m12.19s