McLaughlin focused on title
GOLD COAST: Supercars series leader Scott McLaughlin says he has put his controversial Bathurst 1000 win behind him and is focused on securing backtoback championship at this weekend’s Gold Coast 600.
McLaughlin admitted it had been tough dealing with the fallout over his maiden Great Race victory after his Ford outfit DJR Team Penske copped the biggest fine and points deduction in Supercars history for their safety car tactics.
There were fears the New Zealander may have been stripped of his Bathurst crown when his team was ordered to front a stewards hearing last weekend after Ford teammate Fabian Coulthard backed up the Mount Panorama field by dramatically slowing down during a late safety car period.
Coulthard’s ‘‘go slow’’ eliminated the fuel advantage of
Holden’s Shane van Gisbergen who eventually finished second, just 0.68sec behind McLaughlin.
While McLaughlin was allowed to keep his title, DJR Team Penske copped a $A250,000 ($NZ267,125) fine and was deducted 300 championship points while Coulthard was relegated from sixth to last in the results.
‘‘It’s been pretty full on but I am glad to put it all behind us now,’’ McLaughlin said.
‘‘It was an upanddown week [after Bathurst]. But we worked hard on those last 30 laps to save fuel and put ourselves in the position... to have that track position to have a good go at Shane. It was an awesome battle.’’
Asked if the Bathurst controversy had left a bitter taste, McLaughlin said: ‘‘Not at all.
‘‘Obviously it was a controversy and people love that in sport... I knew we won Bathurst fair and square.’’
McLaughlin said the controversy would not make him change his aggressive approach on the tough street circuit of the Gold Coast where he could possibly wrap up the championship with two more rounds remaining. —AAP