Scott’s perfect shot at making history
SCOTT McLaughlin will attempt to become the first driver to win back-to-back Triple Crowns when the DJR Team Penske flyer resumes his assault on the V8 record books in Darwin on Saturday.
Also a chance of passing Peter Brock on the all-time winners list that Jamie Whincup heads, McLaughlin is out to become the first to pull off a Triple Crown double.
McLaughlin is already the only man to have won it once with the reigning series champion winning all three races in Darwin last year to create history.
“I have always enjoyed this track and we have always had good cars here,” McLaughlin said.
“I was excited to win the Triple Crown last year when no-one had done that for 20 years and we were able to do that. It is going to be fun trying to go back to back on that and get the round win.”
McLaughlin is also just one win away from equalling Peter Brock’s career record of 48 race wins.
While still years away from getting near Whincup’s all-time record of 116, McLaughlin could move past Brock by winning two of this weekend’s three races.
While aware of the history, McLaughlin is just happy to be back behind the wheel after a coronavirus travel ban to Darwin put the round at risk.
Darwin is set to host two consecutive back-to-back rounds.
“I think every driver wants to be racing every weekend if they can and this time this year we have been able to do that during this period,” said McLaughlin.
“I think it’s a smart decision while the Victorian teams are away, to smash out as many races as we can. But they are all the same races, same amount of points, they’re just a lot closer together and the same goal will always be to get as much as we can with what we have got and see what happens.”
This year’s Bathurst 1000 could double up to become not only the year’s biggest stand alone race but also a 2020 championship deciding finale.
“It doesn’t really change anything for me,” McLaughlin said. “Bathurst is Bathurst, whenever we go there whether it’s a week later or two weeks before or whatever they change, it’s Bathurst.
“We’ll just go there and try to win the thing. Yeah, it’s a finale for the championship potentially but it’s not going to change too much.
“I want to win that race just as much as I want to win the championship but we’ll worry about where we are and what objectives we need to complete when we get there.”