Plenty of Kiwi jandal
New Zealand drivers put heat on in Perth with convincing double in front of boss
Ford driver Scott McLaughlin has led his fellow Kiwi and teammate Fabian Coulthard home in a one-two finish in the first of two 50-lap Supercar races at Barbagallo Raceway, Perth this weekend.
The 23-year-old jumped Coulthard off the start and led all the way to the finish as his DJR Team Penske outfit showcased their dominance with a convincing double in front of their American team co-owner Roger Penske.
Red Bull Holden Racing teammates Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen finished third and fourth but were a long way down the road.
After a couple of hectic race meetings where wet weather, tyre blow-outs and penalties threw up some unusual results — yesterday’s race was a little more orthodox.
Tyre degradation at the short circuit is key but all drivers employed a straight-forward strategy with one stop used at the midway point of the race.
McLaughlin gave his team a scare when he pitted just after Coulthard had exited the pit bay. He hadn’t been called to the pits but his team was able to react quick enough to avoid dropping any time.
“The car was fantastic,” McLaughlin said. “I heard Ludo [engineer Ludo Lacroix] there and I thought he said pit but I don’t think he meant it. We are going to have to get my Fringlish [mixture of French and English] a bit better but we’ll work on it.
“To do a one-two in front of Roger is great, too.”
Coulthard pushed McLaughlin hard at the start and after the pit stop but wasn’t ever in a position to attempt a pass.
“I’m rapt for Scotty — his first win for the team — and rapt for everyone at the team,” Coulthard said. We still need to keep working hard. Our cars have been fantastic, good on their tyres so we are just doing our thing.”
Now in his third season as coowner of the team Penske was on hand to see his team record a victory. With a phenomenal record of success in Nascar and IndyCar racing it appears the brand will extend its racing dominance to Australasia.
“It has been a long-time coming for me to be at a race track at V8 Supercars and winning like this,” Penske said. “Having a one-two finish is a tremendous effort by our team.
“We are so happy to be here and everyone has treated us so well over the last couple of years. Now we can show the kind of team we are — not just over here but in the US as well.”
Whincup had to watch the two Fords drive away from the rest of the field, eventually finishing eight seconds down the road.
“Clearly the Penske guys have been working hard and doing a good job but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” a defiant Whincup said. “We have to work harder. Clearly they have better cars so our crew are going to group together and reel them in and make sure it is a good challenge later in the year.”
Coulthard extended his championship lead over the defending series champ van Gisbergen to 25 points. Whincup is third, Chaz Mostert fourth and McLaughlin fifth in the standings.
Another 83-lap race awaits the field today in Perth’s north.