No daylight between Roberto Merhi and James Golding in S5000 practice at Race Tasmania

Roberto Merhi and teammate James Golding were almost inseparable in the first practice session of the S5000 season at Race Tasmania.

Roberto Merhi on track at Symmons Plains on Friday. (Daniel Kalisz / ARG)

Merhi topped the timesheets on Friday with a best time of 49.0716s around the Symmons Plains circuit, with James Golding just over one-thousandth of a second behind with a time of 49.0728s.

Defending two-time champion Joey Mawson was third, with familiar rival Aaron Cameron close behind in fourth.

The three Versa Motorsport cars of Cooper Webster, Blake Purdie, and Matt McLean sat out the second practice session, electing to conserve rubber for the weekend running after testing at the circuit just a month ago.

In the morning session it was Mawson ahead of Cameron and Golding, a familiar order in the short history of the S5000 series.

The season opener at Race Tasmania continues 25-26 February, live on Nine and Stan Sport.