Kai Allen shines as Ford gets engine change for Bathurst

Kai Allen has fired the first warning shot ahead of Sunday’s Bathurst 1000 with the fastest time across today’s two practice sessions.

In perfect conditions at Mount Panorama, Allen topped the time sheets in the first practice session of the weekend with a time of 2:05.5460, more than three-tenths better than the next fastest.

The blistering time for Allen, who drives a Ford for Grove Racing, comes after Supercars confirmed the engine in all Ford competitors would be changed for this weekend. 

Barometric pressure testing before last year’s Bathurst 1000, and again before this weekend, found the Ford engine lost power at high altitude.

A change to the engine, developed by Triple Eight Race Engineering, which is Ford’s homologation team, has been approved by Supercars to level the playing field this weekend. 

There will be no change to the Toyota or GM (Chevrolet) engines.

“As you’re aware, Supercars have conducted Barometric engine testing over the last 12 months and recently completed a further test,” a note to teams read.

“The results of this test have been provided to the Homologation Teams following which consultation has taken place.

“The testing has identified a power loss on the Ford at lower Barometric pressure and as such Supercars have approved a change of ESD developed by the Ford Homologation team to correct this for the Bathurst event only.”

Six of the top 10 cars from Thursday’s first session were Fords, with Chevrolets making up the other four spots, including PremiAir’s Jayden Ojeda who was second fastest with a 2:05.8737.

The fastest Toyota belonged to reigning Supercars champion Chaz Mostert who was 17th fastest for the number 1 Walkinshaw TWG Racing.

While Allen shone, it was not all smooth sailing for Grove Racing with Matthew Payne, last year’s Bathurst 1000 winner, being called in early after his team found power steering fluid on the garage floor.

Lochie Dalton, driving for the Chevrolet number 99 Erebus Motorsport, topped the co-drivers practice session later on Thursday with a 2:05.874.

Again, only Fords and Chevrolets were in the top 10. Again, Walkinshaw TWG Racing’s number 1 was the fastest Toyota, with co-driver Fabian Coulthard at the wheel.

There will be two more practice sessions on Friday ahead of qualifying.