McLaughlin eyes three-peat

Supercars champ focuses on Australia, not the US

OFF-CONTRACT Supercars star Scott McLaughlin says he is focused on becoming just the fourth driver to win three straight championships despite speculation linking him to a US move.

Ford gun McLaughlin admits there will be outside noise about his future in 2020 after successfully testing an IndyCar in Florida last month.

But the New Zealand driver said nothing would distract him from his goal of a threepeat when a new-look Supercars season starts at the Adelaide 500 on February 20.

“I don’t think it (speculation about future) will be a distraction,” McLaughlin said.

“I trialled (in the US) and am really proud of doing it but at the same time nothing has come out of it.

“Obviously the more different cars you drive and the more you go overseas people start speculating - I understand that and was prepared for what was to come (but) I am trying to go three up which is really exciting.”

Rumours won’t go away that McLaughlin may be contesting his last Supercars season after his IndyCar test.

His DJR Team Penske outfit’s majority owner, US motorsport great Roger Penske, owns IndyCar and NASCAR outfits and has hinted McLaughlin may be bound for the US after his Supercars contract expires late this year.

Asked when he would make a call on his future, McLaughlin said: “It’s a team thing - I don’t have anything to do with it. I get told what I have to do.

“If they tell me to drive a wheelbarrow around Bathurst I will do it.”

McLaughlin said his priority was trying to join Australian motorsport’s most elite club.

Ahead of Australian touring car racing’s 60th season, only three drivers have won at least three straight titles - Ian Geoghegan (1966-69), Mark Skaife (2000-2002) and Jamie Whincup (2011-14).

McLaughlin, who dominated with a record 18 race victories last year, admitted winning this season would be more difficult.

“It (defending title) probably gets harder as the pressure gets bigger but I am not really worried about the outside noise,” McLaughlin said.

“I am just focused on our job and will push on.”