Three-time Mt Panorama winner and multiple V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup warns that Holden's Garth Tander could be the smoking gun in Sunday's 50th year of the Supercheap Bathurst 1000.
Whincup, the current V8 Supercar Championship leader and three-time Bathurst winner, and partner Paul Dumbrell were fastest in the opening practice in idyllic conditions at Mt Panorama today.
They headed off the FPR Ford of Will Davison with John McIntyre and TeamVodafone team-mates Craig Lowndes with Warren Luff in practice.
While the two teams have been the dominant force this year, Whincup, who won Bathurst three-straight with Lowndes from 2006, reckons Tander could be the driver to watch.
"Both Triple Eight and FPR have had the best cars this year from Clipsal right through to now. But 1000kms in and anything can happen," said Whincup.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Stone Brothers or HRT cars are sitting right there. Especially Garth - he has won two of the last three so those guys are going to be very tough to beat," he said of the Bathurst winner from 2009 and last year.
"Bathurst is not just about having a quick car and the best team is getting through all the challenges of the day."
Tander, who won on the mountain with Nick Percat last year, was not arguing with Whincup's bold prediction.
"It's probably the best Commodore I've ever had out of the gate at Bathurst, it was straight into the '10-dead' range. I feel comfortable and we're just tuning the car to make it faster on used tyres," Tander said.
"I'm very happy. We knew we'd be 'behind' at the end of the day time-wise as the plan was not to use any new tyres, or even our best practice tyres, which we haven't."
The three fastest teams were unanimous about the thrill of returning to the Mountain on such an auspicious occasion.
"It is such an amazing place and good to be back out there in that first session," said Whincup.
"I hung the car out over Skyline but I am still alive. It's good to be back out there whether it is practice, qually or the race."
Davison agreed on the thrill over the top of Mt Panorama in the first session.
"It is good to get the first run out of the way. It doesn't matter how many times you come here you have to change your jocks at the end of day one. I had a couple of seriously close calls."
The drivers were enthused with the number of cars with retro livery for tthe 50th year of Bathurst. "It is pretty special for Warren and I and the team to carry the livery of the past," said Lowndes.
"Teams like FPR with that retro look are nice to have different coloured cars. It is also fun. It is good to see the teams to go back to the history of what motor racing was all about."
There are two practice runs ahead of afternoon qualifying tomorrow, with further practice and Top-10 Shootout on Saturday ahead of Sunday 1000km race.