Motorsport: Whincup and Dumbrell dominate opening day

Jamie Whincup drives the #88 Red Bull Racing Holden during practice for the Bathurst 1000. Photo / Getty Images

Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell have dominated the opening day of the Bathurst 1000 clocking the fastest time in each of the day's three practice sessions.

Whincup posted a new lap record of 2:05.29s in the final session to cap an impressive day for the #88 Red Bull Racing Holden.

He was quickest in the early afternoon session and co-driver Dumbrell was the best in the co-drivers session.

Fabian Coulthard was the best of the Kiwis - finishing second to Whincup in the final practice run in his DJR Team Penske Ford.

Fellow Kiwis Scott McLaughlin and Shane Van Gisbergen were also inside the top 10 on the opening day.

Rookie Volvo driver James Golding hit the wall hard at the top of the Mountain and his S60 that he shares with James Moffat suffered significant damage during the middle session. Golding is coming off a major crash at the Sandown 500 three week's ago.

Earlier in the day Whincup fired out a lap in 2:05.95s to top the sheets ahead of Kiwi Coulthard's DJR Team Penske Ford while Slade was third quickest in his Holden during the first session.

Scott Pye had a scare in the second DJR Team Penske Ford losing the rear end of his car at the top of the mountain and backed his car through the sand trap and into the tyre bundles. He suffered cosmetic damage only but took no further part in the session. The car returned for the second session.