‘Gutted’ Mclaughlin admits fault for crash
Scott Mclaughlin hopes his Supercars championship aspirations are not ruined after a huge crash in the second practice session in Pukekohe yesterday.
The Kiwi driver was fastest in the first practice session yesterday morning but in the early afternoon one his car failed to turn right on turn two and he crashed into the wall at around 120kmh.
Mclaughlin, who leads the Supercars championship, was not injured but shook his head after seeing considerable damage to the front of the car.
Speaking to Stuff just minutes after the accident, Mclaughlin said the crash was all his fault.
‘‘It was a simple mistake – you haven’t got much room for error,’’ Mclaughlin said.
‘‘I locked the rear going into turn two and lost the rear.
‘‘I just went off at the wrong point. The car feels good, I’m just gutted. Obviously I’m very disappointed in myself, but we’re pushing out there and it’s unfortunate.’’
Mclaughlin said even though it was just a practice session, he was going flat out.
‘‘We’ve only got limited practice so you’re having a crack. I just got unstuck so it’s absolutely my fault.’’
Mclaughlin is in a battle with Shane van Gisbergen for this year’s title and has just a 14-point margin over his compatriot so he’s hoping his high-speed incident hasn’t handed the title away.
The car was badly damaged at the front as it crunched into the wall head on.
The DJR Team-penske mechanics were quickly onto his Ford Falcon when it was towed back to the garage. Its front panels had been ripped off.
They were facing a long night ahead of them to get the car in the best possible shape for today’s first race of the weekend.
However, for the New Zealand round of the championship there are far fewer spare parts. In the Australian rounds teams take their big trucks to each circuit, but as the cars come to New Zealand by aeroplane, each team is able to bring over only a small container of equipment.
Mclaughlin was unsure about how badly damaged the car was, but even if it is fixed, he has lost valuable qualifying time.
‘‘I haven’t even looked, I’m scared to. I think it should be OK.’’
Earlier this week van Gisbergen predicted the title woud be decided by the driver who made the fewest mistakes. Mclaughlin will be hoping he hasn’t made a crucial one.
The crash happened just a couple of metres away from Photosport photographer Andrew Cornaga, who said it was an experience he won’t forget.
‘‘I was right there and he locked up coming around around the turn,’’ Cornaga said.
‘‘I got the lockup picture, then he hit the wall right in front of me.
‘‘I could feel the impact, but he did brake and skidded into the tyres. I left my camera on the wall in front of me and it knocked it off and now it’s not working!
‘‘It all happened so fast, but you realise that motorsport photography isn’t for the faint-hearted. I was behind a concrete wall, with tyres in front of it, but you still feel vulnerable.’’
Meanwhile, the fastest driver in the second practice session was defending Supercars champion Jamie Whincup, while David Reynolds was second with Mark Winterbottom was third.
Van Gisbergen was only the eighth fastest, but it isn’t uncommon for him not to be among the very quickest in practice.
It was a good session for Kiwi Richie Stanaway, who has struggled all season with Tickford Racing, but he was the seventh quickest in the afternoon session.
Fabian Coulthard, who at one point went off the circuit but managed to keep his car under control, was the 14th quickest. Fellow New Zealander Andre Heimgartner was the 20th fastest.
‘‘I just went off at the wrong point. The car feels good, I’m just gutted.’’ Scott Mclaughlin