Kiwi drivers humbled by visit to McLaren’s workshop
As two Kiwi drivers prepare for one of the biggest weekends of their lives at the home of New Zealand motor racing, Pukekohe, they got to visit an historic place in Auckland yesterday.
Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen visited the humble, no longer operating, service station in the Auckland suburb of Remuera, where Bruce McLaren grew up.
McLaren created one of the greatest legacies in motorsport, despite passing away in 1970 at the age of 32, when testing a Can Am car in England. The McLaren team has won the F1 constructors’ championship eight times and the driver’s championship on 12 occasions.
Sadly the garage these days shows no signs of its significance to New Zealand motorsport, but the two drivers both walked around it, reflecting on its importance.
‘‘It’s very historic. It’s cool to be here and understand what went on,’’ McLaughlin said.
‘‘I’ve been up the top where his room was and it’s freaky and cool at the same time.
‘‘They’ve got that McLaren Technology Centre in the UK now and it shows how much of a legacy the guy left on everyone and how hard work and dedication can go from this to what it is now.’’
Fabian Coulthard and McLaughlin are second and third in the Supercars championship, with van Gisbergen fifth. So it’s been a great year for Kiwis in the category, but making more headlines of late is Brendon Hartley, who has driven in the last two Formula One races.
‘‘It’s awesome for New Zealand,’’ McLaughlin said.
‘‘He’s been doing some fantastic things and so too has Earl Bamber in Europe and a few other guys.
‘‘It does suck that now he’s made it to Formula One all of a sudden he’s in the limelight, because what he’s done the last few years has been pretty impressive too.
‘‘But certainly to New Zealand to have a Formula One driver is fantastic and hopefully he sticks around for next year because I can seriously see that Honda engine being good next year and him being quick.’’
McLaughlin said a couple of years ago he’d be keen on giving Nascar a go at some point in his career, once he’d achieved what he wanted in Supercars.
But he says there’s never any chance of him looking at Formula One.
‘‘I think I’ve gone too far down a different path,’’ he said. ’’I’d love to drive one, but competitively? No.’’
With two rounds of this year’s Supercars season to go and a potential 600 points up for grabs, Coulthard is just 17 points behind Whincup and McLaughlin is a further 10 points back. Chaz Mostert is 127 points behind the leader and van Gisbergen is 189 points adrift.
No one will win the championship this weekend, but someone may lose it.
‘‘You certainly know the benefits of having a good round this weekend,’’ McLaughlin said.