SCOTT SHOWS TOP-END SPEED
FORD star Scott McLaughlin sealed a stellar weekend for Gold Coast-based DJR Team Penske in Darwin with a dominant victory in yesterday’s Supercars race. The 24-year-old New Zealander denied Holden’s Jamie Whincup a drought-breaking win, continuing the six-time champion’s winless start to the season. McLaughlin’s victory in the 70-lap event at Hidden Valley Raceway took Kiwi drivers’ winning tally to 11 this season after the opening 12 races. The win catapulted McLaughlin above Whincup in the championship standings, to second, 10 points behind stablemate Fabian Coulthard.
SCOTT McLaughlin hit back to flog the field and reemerge as a genuine championship contender as DJR Team Penske scored another victory in Darwin yesterday.
The 24-year-old went toe to toe with Supercars great Jamie Whincup and again got the better of the Red Bull Holden Racing Team star, scorching to win by almost four seconds.
After a self-described “brain-fart’’ cost him a Saturday triumph at Hidden Valley, McLaughlin set up the win with an inch-perfect top-10 shootout victory in the Shell Ford.
The Kiwi star celebrated Penske’s eighth win of the year by literally driving the wheels off his car during a lap-long burnout.
“I am pretty pumped with the race win but the burnout probably wasn’t too good,’’ McLaughlin said.
“I am stoked to be able to get the opportunity to do a victory burnout and I have to thank the team.
“They have given both me and Fabian (Coulthard) some amazing cars. I just had really good pace and that allowed us to take the best strategy.’’
McLaughlin all but won the race on lap 35 when he took his second pit-stop and race leader Whincup opted to stay out on the track. Whincup didn’t react to the undercut move that ultimately cost him the lead and instead powered on for another six laps before pitting.
But conceding a five-litre fuel advantage to McLaughlin virtually rendered any reaction pointless.
Pushing on for a potential late tyre gain was the only play for the Holden gun. But Whincup ended up trailing by more than three seconds following his final pit stop.
McLaughlin was untouchable in the final stages, extending his lead to six seconds with 14 laps left.
“I had a good battle with Jamie there but we got it home,’’ McLaughlin said.
James Moffat was contending for drive of the day until 11 laps to go when a failed tyre ended his race.
The son of touring car legend Allan Moffat was in sixth place with his Garry Rogers Motorsport team when disaster struck.
“It is very frustrating,’’ team boss Garry Rogers said.
“He had great pace all weekend.’’
McLaughlin moved to within 16 points of championship leader Coulthard after his teammate finished fourth.
Whincup ensured he remained in the title fight with yet another second.
I AM PRETTY PUMPED WITH THE RACE WIN BUT THE BURNOUT PROBABLY WASN’T TOO GOOD SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN