Adrian Mastronardo and Tim Slade have started their Pro-Am weekend on a high at Phillip Island, setting the fastest lap time in Friday practice – a complete change of fortune for the duo from a year ago.

A heavy practice crash forced Mastronardo and Slade out of the 2014 Pro-Am and subsequently watched the Phillip Island event from the sidelines. Their 2015 Pro-Am campaign has started in much better fashion – Slade posting the quickest time of the day and Mastronardo scoring the sixth quickest time of the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge drivers.

Slade was pleased with his Friday form, finishing ahead of Nick Percat, Scott McLaughlin, David Russell and youngster Matt Campbell on the timesheets.

“Adrian is doing an awesome job and he’s come a long way since last year. He’s put a lot of work into his driving and I think that showed today. We had a decent run in practice two and now we’re looking forward to qualifying tomorrow,” said Slade.

Mastronardo was also pleased with the duo’s performance after their horrid 2014 Pro-Am event.

“This is a vast improvement from the 2014 round at Phillip Island. I’ve been looking forward to this event since last year and hopefully we can come out with a good result. I think there’s no doubt we can get a podium this weekend,” said Mastronardo.

Nick Foster’s co-driver Dylan Thomas was the quickest Challenge class competitor, posting the fastest Challenge lap time from GT3 Cup Challenge racers Geoff Emery and John Karytinos and Carrera Cup regulars Tony Bates, Roger Lago, Mastronardo, Shane Smollen and Stephen Grove.

Carrera Cup will hold its Challenge and Professional qualifying sessions at 9:10am and 11:00am, respectively, with race one to be held at 12:45pm.

To view the opening Pro-Am race live, visit www.motorsporttv.com.au. Saturday’s live stream starts from 12pm while Sunday’s stream begins at 9am.

Race Schedule
Saturday May 23
09:10am Qualifying 1 – Challenge (15 mins)
11:00am Qualifying 2 – Professional (15 mins)
12:45pm Race 1 (36 laps)
Sunday May 24
09:30am Warm up (10 mins)
10:35am Race 2 (36 laps)

Practice 1 results
1 D.Thomas (Bob Jane T-Marts) 01:33.1
2 G.Emery (Davbridge Constructions) 01:33.2 -00:00.1
3 J.Karytinos (Copyworld Toshiba) 01:33.5 -00:00.4
4 T.Bates (AFS/Ned Whisky & Cola) 01:33.6 -00:00.5
5 R.Lago (JBS Australia) 01:33.7 -00:00.6
6 A.Mastronadro (Veritas / Builtform) 01:33.8 -00:00.7
7 S.Smollen (McGrath Estate Agents) 01:34.0 -00:00.9
8 S.Grove (Grove Group) 01:34.0 -00:00.9
9 J.Bergmuller (MotorOne Car Care) 01:34.2 -00:01.0
10 S.Walter (Wilson Security/PAYCE/Genis) 01:34.2 -00:01.0
11 J.Goodacre (OPS Gateway) 01:34.2 -00:01.1
12 N.Muston (Bob Jane T-Marts) 01:34.4 -00:01.3
13 D.Ryan (Porsche Centre Brighton) 01:34.7 -00:01.6
14 M.Twigg (Porsche Centre Melbourne) 01:34.9 -00:01.8
15 R.Angus (Team BRM) 01:35.0 -00:01.8
16 M.Cini (Hallmarc) 01:35.1 -00:02.0
17 A.Samadi (Apartment Hotel) 01:35.2 -00:02.0
18 T.Miles (Phase 8) 01:35.3 -00:02.1
19 D.Grant (Laser Plumbing & Electrical) 01:35.3 -00:02.2
20 J.Koundouris (Finanze Ezi) 01:36.1 -00:02.9
21 I.Padayachee (VIP Petfoods) 01:38.8 -00:05.6
22 S.Taylor (Scott Taylor Motorsport) 01:42.2 -00:09.1

Practice 2 results
1 T.Slade (Veritas / Builtform) 01:30.6
2 N.Percat (McGrath Estate Agents) 01:31.2 -00:00.6
3 S.McLaughlin (Grove Group) 01:31.3 -00:00.7
4 D.Russell (Finanze Ezi) 01:31.8 -00:01.1
5 M.Campbell (Phase 8) 01:31.8 -00:01.1
6 D.Canto (Scott Taylor Motorsport) 01:31.8 -00:01.1
7 S.Owen (JBS Australia) 01:31.8 -00:01.2
8 N.McBride (Bob Jane T-Marts) 01:31.8 -00:01.2
9 S.Richards (Laser Plumbing & Electrical) 01:31.9 -00:01.3
10 N.Foster (Bob Jane T-Marts) 01:31.9 -00:01.3
11 C.Baird (Porsche Centre Melbourne) 01:31.9 -00:01.3
12 D.Fiore (Apartment Hotel) 01:31.9 -00:01.3
13 C.McConville (OPS Gateway) 01:32.2 -00:01.5
14 S.Davies (Davbridge Constructions) 01:32.2 -00:01.5
15 D.Gaunt (AFS/Top Cat) 01:32.5 -00:01.8
16 D.Padayachee (VIP Petfoods) 01:32.5 -00:01.9
17 C.Mies (Hallmarc) 01:32.5 -00:01.9
18 R.Muscat (Wilson Security/PAYCE/Genis) 01:32.5 -00:01.9
19 M.Almond (Copyworld Toshiba) 01:32.6 -00:02.0
20 F.Ross (Porsche Centre Brighton) 01:32.7 -00:02.1
21 A.Davison (MotorOne Car Care) 01:33.0 -00:02.3
22 S.Hodge (Team BRM) 01:33.2 -00:02.5