BATHURST driver Mick Anderson bounced back from a small mechanical issue to finish with the fifth fastest time in Friday's second Super 3 practice session at Mount Panorama.
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In the opening session of the day Anderson pulled his Ford FG Falcon back quickly into pit lane where it was revealed his new gearbox had a damaged seal.
The team kept the car in the garage for the remainder of the session to rectify the issue and the car was a much smoother machine in the second time on the track, finishing with a fastest lap of 2:15.2613.
It was a pleasing result for Anderson who is making the switch from team manager to driver this season.
Anderson said the gearbox hassle was only a small challenge in an otherwise encouraging day back behind the wheel.
"It's a brand new gearbox and this is sometimes what can happen when you don't get the chance for testing. We had a bit of a drama with a seal on it which needed replacing and after that it was good as new," he said.
"Out here it's just a case of getting some clear air because it's very easy on this track to get blocked for a run.
"We had green tyres available but we didn't want to put those on just for the sake of trying to get a quick time, especially with how dirty the track was. It's not worth sacrificing good tyres for."
Anderson's time on the track in the day's opening session was limited to just two laps - neither of which were completed at full pace.
The Bathurst driver got onto the track five minutes into the day's second practice session and set about trying to put his mechanical issue from earlier in the day behind him.
After four laps and a fastest time he was back in pit lane, where he would stay for the next 10 minutes.
Anderson eventually came out of the pits with better pace, first producing a 2:16.7715 before bettering that effort three laps later with his time in the 2:15s.
However, his last flying attempt was cut short when his former Anderson Motorsport driver Declan Fraser crashed at the top of the Mount and brought out the red flag.
Jayden Ojeda had the fastest time overall in the first combined Super 2 and 3 practice session with a 2:08.1463 while Jordan Boys bettered that mark in the second session with a 2:08.1045.
Jon McCorkindale was the quickest Super 3 driver across both of Friday's sessions, dominating on both occasions with a fastest time of 2:11.2582 in the second session.
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