McLaughlin roars to another victory
Kiwi Scott McLaughlin returned to winning ways and Chaz Mostert claimed the Larry Perkins Perpetual Trophy in the final race of the V8 Supercars event at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne yesterday.
Defending champion McLaughlin quickly roared to the front of the race and wasn’t headed in the short race in Melbourne, beating home Mostert and Jamie Whincup to the podium places.
‘‘Everyone in New Zealand, this is for you,’’ McLaughlin said after his fifth win from as many starts this year. He was referring to the horrific shootings at two Christchurch mosques which left 50 dead and 50 injured on Friday.
Mostert’s race five win and consistency across the weekend won him the best overall performer at the meet, made all the more remarkable by the Tickford Racing ace’s battle with the flu.
Mostert described himself as feeling ‘‘two out of 10’’ before the final race. ‘‘I’m just looking forward to getting through this,’’ he said.
The pole sitter was overtaken from the line by McLaughlin and Whincup before he got past the Triple Eight veteran with the superior pace of his Mustang.
Cam Waters and Will Davison finished fourth and fifth, meaning four of the top five drivers were steering Fords.
Macauley Jones’ highspeed meeting with the wall brought out the safety car and shortened the final race.
Shane van Gisbergen and Fabian Coulthard duelled at the DJR Team Penske man’s expense, with the Holden ace locking up unfortunately to send Coulthard off the track.
It didn’t end well for the two New Zealanders. Coulthard finished 15th while the 2016 series champion van Gisbergen slumped to 22nd after a weekend of woe. McLaughlin dedicated his race win to his team after a bizarre warm-up lap crash with Waters robbed him of the chance to participate in the third race of the meet.
‘‘That was for yesterday. Sorry,’’ he said contritely over the team radio.
McLaughlin has won every race he’s lined up in and leads the championship standings despite the DNS result on Saturday.
‘‘I don’t count yesterday’s race so let’s go five from five [wins],’’ he said. ‘‘I feel like I’m nailing those starts. It’s making me feel really good.’’