Kai Allen shines as Ford gets engine change for Bathurst

Kai Allen delivered the quickest time during both practice sessions on Thursday, setting the stage for the upcoming Bathurst 1000. Ford has implemented an engine change for this weekend after testing revealed the engine was losing power at high altitude. Supercars will provide live updates of the event from start to finish on Sunday.

Allen emerged as the frontrunner ahead of Sunday's Bathurst 1000, posting the fastest time across the first two practice sessions. Under ideal conditions at Mount Panorama, Allen topped the timer in the first practice session with a time of 2:05.5460, more than three-tenths faster than the second-place finisher. The impressive performance by Allen, who drives a Ford for Grove Racing, came after Supercars confirmed the engine change for all Ford competitors for this weekend.

Barometric pressure testing conducted before last year's Bathurst 1000 and again before this weekend found the Ford engine losing power at high altitude. A modified engine, developed by Triple Eight Race Engineering, which serves as Ford's homologation team, has been approved by Supercars to level the playing field this weekend.

The Toyota and GM (Chevrolet) engines will remain unchanged. Supercars has conducted barometric engine testing over the past 12 months, with the latest test recently completed and the results shared with the homologation teams. Six of the top 10 cars during Thursday's first session were Fords, with Chevrolet cars occupying the remaining four spots, including Jayden Ojeda from PremiAir, who was the second-fastest with a time of 2:05.8737.

Reigning Supercars champion Chaz Mostert achieved the fastest Toyota, placing 17th with a time of 2:06.3422 for the number 1 Walkinshaw TWG Racing. While Kai Allen excelled, Grove Racing's Matthew Payne encountered issues during practice sessions, with power steering fluid found on the garage floor, leading to his early exit. Lochie Dalton, driving for Chevrolet's Erebus Motorsport, was the fastest co-driver during Thursday's practice sessions, clocking a time of 2:05.874.

Only Fords and Chevrolets were among the top 10 in co-driver practice as well. There will be two more practice sessions on Friday before the start of qualifying.