Mark Skaife was a happy campeꦫr at the end of play after the first session's running at Mount Panorama for the Australian V8 Supercar Series Super Cheap Auto 1000, the lead HRT Holden Commodore having set the second fastest time at the Mountain.

Skaife's car completed the 6.213km track in 2min 08.2194secs, with the Sandown winning Team Betta Electrical car of Craig Lowndes the fastest on Thursday.

"The track was better than I🃏 thought it would be and the car was very good first up," explains Skaife, "To wheel cars out on a full tank of fuel and do high 10s and low 11s, the circuit's in good nick and the car's in good nick. As the session went on we tuned it quite well, Todd and I had similar comments about how we wanted it. My best lap probably wasn't the best lap I've ever done but ﷺthe car felt good, so it was a good start for us.

"We put a set of greens (new tyres) on at the end
but we did the whole session prior to that on the one set. We did an 8.6 on the old set t♛hat we did the whole session on, and an 8.2 on the fresh tyres. It wasn't the best lap, but I was really encouraged by doing that 8.6 on those tyres."

HRT is opting for the approach of plꦦacing both regular drivers in the lead car, meaning Skaife sha💝res with Todd Kelly this weekend.

"The car was good💃 at the start, and the way we've changed the car at the end is the way I prefer the car, it suits me better so I'm looking forward to getting back in the car tomorrow," s🅠aid the older Kelly brother in the series. "At the moment I think things are looking pretty good."