Mountain slayer a proud Kiwi champ
Scott McLaughlin said he felt proud to be a Kiwi after winning the Bathurst 1000 on Sunday. The 26-year-old became the first New Zealand primary driver to win the great race since Greg Murphy in 2004 and it was fitting that Murphy, McLaughlin’s childhood hero, was the first to interview him afterwards.
McLaughlin may have to live in Australia, to be close to his Queensland-based DJR Team Penske team, but that doesn’t diminish how overjoyed he was to win at Mount Panorama with a New Zealand flag on his car.
‘‘I’m really proud to do it for New Zealand,’’ McLaughlin told Stuff.
‘‘I’m a proud Kiwi, always have been, even though I’ve got a hybrid accent.
‘‘I’ve been in Australia for a long time but to do this for New Zealand 15 years after Greg Murphy did it, I’m really proud of that.
‘‘I saw a lot of flags out there and I’m just over the moon.’’
McLaughlin’s mum, dad and sister, Samantha, were all at the race track and joined him in the celebrations afterwards. The champion driver said it had been a family effort for him to get this far in motorsport.
‘‘It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work and sacrifices from all of us, including my sister, to get me to the top,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m so proud and privileged to have a family that backs me all the way. Including my fiance now Karly. We are getting married in December and certainly this will be the best year of my life.’’
McLaughlin grew up idolising Murphy and after meeting him as a young child knew that he wanted to one day emulate his success at Mount Panorama.
For him, this win meant more than winning the Supercars championship last year.
‘‘Personally, I wanted Bathurst more than a championship,’’ he said.
‘‘The championship last year was amazing and I’ll never forget that, but winning Bathurst this year is unreal.
‘‘It’s probably the coolest moment of my life. I was in tears going across the line.
‘‘I just had nothing to say afterwards, nothing. It was just unbelievable.’’
The race came down to a onelap sprint between McLaughlin and fellow Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen.
McLaughlin knew van Gisbergen would give it everything, but had to stay focused.
‘‘I didn’t want to drop the ball and make a mistake,’’ he said.
‘‘I knew I wouldn’t, I knew I was mentally stable enough to do it. But it’s a tough thing, you’ve got to believe yourself and believe in your car.
‘‘I just drove on instinct and we got it done.
‘‘I had one eye on the mirror in the passing spots. I got through turns one and two and he didn’t pass me there.
‘‘When I got to the top [of the mountain], I had a crack across there, got a bit of a gap and then I looked again at Forrest’s Elbow and could see he was a fair way behind.
‘‘Personally, I wanted Bathurst more than a championship.’’ Scott McLaughlin
‘‘So I thought, that’s nice! I just went along with it after that and it was unbelievable.’’
McLaughlin’s dad, Wayne, said he couldn’t be prouder of what his son had achieved.
‘‘It’s been his life’s dream,’’ Wayne McLaughlin said.
‘‘He couldn’t have fought any harder for it and watching him, he was just possessed. If he would have run out of fuel, it just wouldn’t have been right.
‘‘But this is Bathurst, it throws up so much stuff and I’m really proud.
‘‘I was very emotional, just blown away. That was the toughest I’ve ever seen in one race, it was madness.’’
Mum Diane said she could barely watch the last few dramatic laps as her son battled to not only staying front, but also conserve enough fuel to make it to the finish line.
‘‘It was amazing,’’ she said. ‘‘A great day and the last 10 laps were dreadful, I never want to go there again. I just felt like hiding really.
‘‘It’s another tick in a box,’’ she added.
‘‘He wanted it so badly and he got it. So we’re really happy and proud for him.
‘‘We heard a lot of people were watching it back home in New Zealand and I hope they’re as proud of him as we are.’’