Veterans at bat for title push
Mclaughlin on track for race record
MOTORSPORT: Ford star Scott Mclaughlin can add another piece of history to his unstoppable charge to the Supercars championship with a race win in Auckland this weekend.
Mclaughlin’s double at Tailem Bend in South Australia last month took him level with Craig Lowndes’s 1996 record of 16 race wins in a single season.
A victory in either race this weekend would make Mclaughlin the most successful driver in a single season in the championship’s history.
Given Mclaughlin’s dominance it seems almost inevitable he will surpass that tally but the New Zealander admits it would be a special thrill to break the record in his homeland. WORLD “There’s championship plenty more opportable tennis tunities is to in do progress it later in in the Townsyear ville but I’d as players love to, from obviously, 11 country tries and win compete it at against home,” a the field DJR of Australian Team Penske hopes. driver said.
“Regardless The Townsville if there leg of was the a International record on the line Table or not, Tennis I’d still Federation’s be coming in World wanting Veterans to win Tour here badly. has kicked off at Townsville “It Stadium is very exciting and runs for through me to until potentially Sunday, be able with to entry add to free a for record all spectators. and that’s really cool.”
Lowndes’s More than 100 brilliant players 1996 in singles, campaign mixed led to the and first doubles of his divisions three career across championships age brackets but from he expects over-40s his record to over-80s to fall are at competing some point at over the the event, weekend which at forms Pukekohe part Park. of the largest table tennis “Records championship are there to tour be broin the ken. world. There’s definitely no doubt that Townsville Scotty’s having joins Shenzhen a stellar (China), year and Innsbruck it’s not a matter (Austria), of if, Fort it’s probably Lauderdale a matter (Florida), of when,” Doha Lowndes (Qatar) said. and Cardiff (Wales) Mclaughlin as a host heads venue across for the the tour, Tasman which holding features a mammoth an inaugural 573-point world lead rankings in the system. championship Townsville from nearest is the rival only Chaz city in Mostert. the southern hemisphere to have As been well as granted his shot a at licence history, to be Mclaughlin a host venue. will be making his 100th “It’s Supercars very exciting round for start table at tennis the circuit in our where region in 2013 and it’s he also claimed exciting his first for race the communwin. ity “It as means well,” a Townsville lot. It’s a magical Table Tennis place,” he president said. Brendan Gaeta The Auckland said. “Townsville’s Supersprint already starts with known practice as a high-value tomorrow venue before for a 70-lap sport and race this on builds both on Saturday that. and Sunday.
“The visiting — players Ed Jackson are very impressed with the venue we have here, and the competition’s been going very well.”
Players from countries including China, Russia, Singapore, the US and the UK are competing in the Townsville leg of the tour.
The competition is also a major boost for Townsville Table Tennis, which was affected by the major weather event which hit the city earlier this year.
“We have four of our juniors going to the New Zealand Open pretty soon, so it’s good for them as well to get a taste of an international event.
“Everyone is welcome to come down and have a look.”
Games start daily from 9am and end on Sunday with championship games finishing around 4pm.