Kiwi hotshots face plenty of competition
The Supercars season roars into life this weekend and, according to Greg Murphy, it won’t be a shootout between Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen. David Long reports.
Scott McLaughlin won’t have it all his own way in Supercars this year, believes four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy.
McLaughlin, 26, had the most dominant season in the history of the category in 2019, winning 18 of the 31 races and only once finishing outside the top 10.
Supercars officials have been working hard to ensure a repeat won’t happen again this year. They have enforced a number of changes on the Ford Mustangs and soon-to-be-retired Holden Commodores, which include reducing the amount of downforce the cars have.
Also, all teams will only be permitted to run a new control specification damper, which means no team will be able to gain an advantage.
Both of these changes are done to lessen the advantage big-budget outfits such as DJR Team Penske and Red Bull have over the smaller teams.
So race wins should be spread along pitlane and results decided by who’s the best driver, rather than who’s in the fastest car.
But because of the talents of McLaughlin and his compatriot Shane van Gisbergen, they’re still regarded as favourites to win this year’s championship, although Murphy doesn’t think it will be that straightforward.
‘‘I don’t think it’s just down to Scotty or Shane at all,’’ Murphy said.
‘‘I am really excited about what the Supercars have done with the technical changes. Hopefully it has reduced the advantage that the likes of Penske and Red Bull had over the field with the resources they have.’’
Seven-time champion Jamie Whincup should be right up there again this year and David Reynolds could have a bounce back campaign after a disappointing 2019.
Murphy is intrigued at how Chaz Mostert goes, after shifting from a Ford to a Holden, deciding to leave the underperforming Tickford Racing at the end of last season.
‘‘I’m excited to see the likes of Chaz Mostert at Walkinshaw Andretti United,’’ Murphy said.
‘‘His timing to leave Tickford and go to another team is interesting, because of the changes and improvements that were being made at WAU late in the season.’’
As well as McLaughlin and van Gisbergen, there are three other Kiwis in this year’s championship. Fabian Coulthard remains as McLaughlin’s codriver, but has plenty to prove this year
Adelaide 500:
Today: Qualifying 2.25pm-2.50pm, Top 10 shootout 3pm-3.30pm, race 6.50pm8.50pm.
Tomorrow: Qualifying 2.20pm-2.45pm, Top 10 shootout 2.55pm-3.25pm, race 5.50pm-7.50pm.
if he wants to get out from behind McLaughlin’s shadow.
Andre Heimgartner stays at Kelly Racing as they move from a Nissan to a Ford and he might at last be able to get better results now he’s in a more competitive car.
Chris Pither got a late callup for a fulltime drive with the new Team Sydney and will be James Courtney’s team-mate.
It’s anyone’s guess how well Pither goes. The same could be said for most of the cars and it may be a case of whoever has the fewest bad days will end up the champion.
‘‘I do think Erebus [Reynolds and Anton De Pasquale] are going to be strong,’’ Murphy said.
‘‘These changes are going to suit them well and hopefully it will give them a bit of a leveller when it comes to the consistency requirement to turn up at every race day and be on the ball.
‘‘I’m hoping the changes make it more about the drivers and the relationships with their engineers, than just having behind-the-scenes resources that create benefits.
‘‘You should never discount Jamie Whincup. He proved how fast he was last year on many occasions and you always need to mention him alongside Scott and Shane.
‘‘He can be unbeatable on certain days and his consistency on others is what everyone else would like to have.’’
So who will win? McLaughlin is the deserved favourite, but he won’t have everything his own way and it’s likely to come down to the final round of the season in December.