Ford and Holden stars have split the two practice sessions ahead of the Supercars’ Sydney SuperSprint night race.

Two-time defending champion Scott McLaughlin appeared to be cruising towards a pair of practice wins, but Shane van Gisbergen claimed the second session with a scorching late lap at Sydney Motorsport Park.

“It’s only practice, but other people were doing full (qualifying) runs,” van Gisbergen said.

“It’s a little bit different track to the last time we were here, but (I’m) trying to get up with it.

“Hopefully we qualify up front and then we can decide our tyres.”

McLaughlin’s Shell V-Power teammate Fabian Coulthard came in third during practice two, while Holden legend Jamie Whincup was fourth-fastest.

McLaughlin, who takes a 49-point championship lead into this weekend’s round at Sydney Motorsport Park, is going to take some beating across the three races.

Not even a red flag during practice one, after Garry Jacobson’s bonnet flew up out of the pits, could distract McLaughlin.

Saturday night’s 32-lap race will get underway at 6.25pm, with qualifying to begin at 3.10pm.