Supercars' New Zealand drivers have made a fast start at their home race, with Andre Heimgartner and Ryan Wood leading practice at the Taupo 440.
Heimgartner, looking to claim back-to-back wins at Taupo International Motorsport Park, took out Friday's first practice session with a lap time of one minute 26.883 seconds.
Rising star Wood later shaved 0.906 seconds off Heimgartner's time to top the second practice session.
The 21-year-old, in his second Supercars season, will be looking to convert his pace for Saturday's back-to-back qualifying sessions.
"That rookie label gets left behind so you probably have a little bit more pressure on your shoulders, but for me, I just need to put my best foot forward," Wood said.
"It's pretty hard to win in this championship and I'll just give it my best shot.
"I just drive too hard in (qualifying) once I get there and expect too much.
"It just sort of shows that once you just let the car do the work, instead of me just getting up on the handlebars and trying to wrestle it - it makes a little bit of a difference."
Wellington-born Wood was followed by Dick Johnson Racing driver Brodie Kostecki, with Tickford's Thomas Randle third-fastest.
Wood's Walkinshaw Andretti United teammate Chaz Mostert did not enjoy the same pace as he battled with the car's set-up.
Championship contender Mostert had strayed off-track twice in one lap during the 30-minute session, losing his rears at turn six before running wide three corners later and finishing sixth-fastest.
"It was a pretty messy session for us," Mostert said.
"Really struggling to bring the new brakes in that session - just fell really behind the eight ball."
Brad Jones Racing's Heimgartner was fourth-fastest in the later session.
He had survived wild and wet conditions at the inaugural Taupo race event last year to win the first Supercars race in New Zealand since 2022, and his second career win.
"The car feels good. I feel pretty clear on what we need and the direction we are going but still early obviously," Heimgartner said.
"But great to roll out fastest at our home track so hopefully it keeps going."
There will be another practice session on Friday, with two 120km, 37-lap races getting underway on Saturday.
Back-to-back qualifying sessions starting at 8.25am (AEST) will kick off Saturday's action before the first sprint race gets underway at 10.50am.
