Testing time rules out Mac attack on the mountain
TRIPLE Supercars champion-turned-indycar racer Scott Mclaughlin has all but ruled out a return to Australia for the postponed Bathurst 1000 but has vowed to be back next year if Covid travel complications ease.
As Mclaughlin aims to close out his rookie Indycar season on a high, the 2019 Bathurst 1000 champion said his commitments in the US for Team Penske had to take precedence over a return to race at Mt Panorama.
This year’s race has been rescheduled for the start of December due to the Covid outbreaks on the east coast.
Mclaughlin had been hoping to race for his former Supercars team Dick Johnson Racing but the new dates mean it is going to be hard to work around off-season team and testing commitments.
DJR is giving him until as late as possible to make a final call but he is all but resigned to not tackling the mountain for the first time in 10 years.
“It just depends on quarantines and stuff but I doubt anything is going to change before then,” he said.
“We’ve spoken about it a number of times with (DJR co-owner) Ryan (Story) and I am grateful to them for giving me basically up until D-day.
“But right now I can’t sacrifice being away for more than a month.
“I’m going to miss Bathurst and miss the people, miss the team and I’m forever grateful for the loyalty they are showing me.”
But Mclaughlin hopes next year will be different. “My calendar has already come out and I will finish September 11, so for sure if things get back to normal and I certainly would come out over to Australia as soon as I can to make sure I get some testing in,” he said.
Before the final race of the season, in California this weekend, Mclaughlin sits 13th in the standings.