Kiwi driver’s crushing error

SCOTT McLaughlin’s championship hopes took a hit yesterday when the DJR/Team Penske star crashed out of practice in a dramatic start to the Auckland SuperSprint.

Locked in a one-on-one fight with Shane van Gisbergen for the Supercars crown, McLaughlin hit a wall at Pukekohe Raceway at more than 100km/h to send a scare through Ford at the penultimate round of the season.

McLaughlin will now be forced to fight his Red Bull rival from the back-foot after he survived just four minutes of practice two before slamming into a wall at turn two.

“I was just trying to find a bit more,’’ McLaughlin said.

“I overstepped the mark and it was totally my fault. I just lost the rear going into two and I was gone.’’

McLaughlin was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks following the crash.

“I am OK,’’ McLaughlin said. “It was a pretty big hit.

“I can’t do much about it now and I have to just own it and get on with it.’’

The Kiwi ace apologised to his team for causing the crash that forced a salvage mission.

McLaughlin is expecting to have his car fully repaired for the third and final practice session today.

The championship leader was denied valuable practice time ahead of his latest duel with van Gisbergen.

“I am sorry to everyone at Shell V Power Racing,’’ McLaughlin said. “I have given them a whole lot of work that they didn’t need.”