SWEENY SHINES - BAILEY GOES FASTEST OVERALL IN PRACTICE AT TASMANIA
A recent test day held by Blanchard Racing Team at Symmons Plains in the lead-up to Round 2 of the Dunlop Super2 Series has worked wonders for Bailey Sweeny, who has finished the day fastest overall after Practice of Day 1.
Sporting new backing from Super Spill & Safety Solutions, rookie Sweeny was at the top of the timesheets for the majority of the session, at one stage putting more than half a second on the field.
The ultimate benchmark set by the #33 Mustang was a 52.4830s, which is half a second down on the practice and qualifying lap record set by Garry Jacobson in 2018.
Sweeny's buffer was slashed by Walkinshaw Andretti United rookie Matt Hillyer as the final runs of the session began, with the #25 Commodore setting a 52.7289s to finish second for the session.
The only other driver to dip under the 53 second barrier was fellow rookie Reuben Goodall, who set a 52.9777s on his final lap to finish third ahead of Tickford teammate and Launceston local Lochie Dalton on a 53.0261s.
Any final runs were scuppered by a red flag in the final six minutes of the session, as Mason Kelly ran long at the Turn 4 hairpin and couldn't get out of the run-off area.
The session ultimately would not resume, with many teams about to start their final burst for the session, with some heavy hitters finding themselves further down the pecking order.
Bailey Sweeny’s new livery
In the second of the day’s 2 Practice sessions, Zach Bates topped the timesheets beating out Practice 1 pacesetter Bailey Sweeny.
The Canberran set a 52.4847s in the #1 Commodore, just 0.0235s quicker than Sweeny's 52.5082s, though it is still an extremely promising start for Sweeny.
The top three was rounded out by series leader Jordyn Sinni, who set a 52.5709s in the #54 Eggleston entry to also finish within a tenth of Bates' benchmark.
Cameron McLeod, the winner of the opening race in Sydney and second in points, finished seventh in the session after battling with a very loose #92 Mustang, ahead of Eggleston rookie Cody Burcher, who lost 15 minutes with a roll bar drama.
There were several wild moments throughout the final 40-minute practice session, however unlike Practice 1, there were no red flag interruptions.
The Dunlop Super2 Series returns to the track tomorrow morning at 10:40am AEST for Boost Mobile Qualifying for Race 3 of the 2025 season, which will begin at 12:40pm AEST.