A three-time Repco Supercars champion and Bathurst 1000 victor, Scott Mclaughlin has just about won it all in Oceania’s leading motorsport category and has now transferred this success to IndyCar.
McLaughlin’s career in a Supercar started innocuously after stalling in his second race of Fujitsu Development Series competition at Queensland Raceway in 2010, but just two years later he made his debut in the main game.
Entered in the endurance races at Tekno Autosports, McLaughlin was quickly picked up by noted developer of talent Garry Rogers to compete in his first season of Supercars.
In a sign of things to come for the young New Zealander, it took just six races into his maiden campaign to take victory in front of a rapturous home crowd at Pukekohe. Although he was weekend soured from there, McLaughlin’s first victory is widely acknowledged as he arriving onto the Supercars scene.
Another win at Queensland Raceway and 10th outright in the standings was just a taste of what the young gun was to achieve in the sport across the Tasman.
Next year, Garry Rogers Motorsport went Volvo and McLaughlin became the face of the program. Lasting three seasons, McLaughlin was unlucky to take a title as he won many fans and races for the Swedish marque as it built on its history in Australian touring cars during the mid-1980s.
Back then, it’s efforts were also spearheaded by a New Zealander in the form of Robbie Francevic as he sealed the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship in the Volvo 240 Turbo.
Achieving six wins during his Volvo era and finishing a best of third in the Supercars Championship made McLaughlin hot property in the driver market, with none other than one of the motorsport world’s biggest names signing him on for 2017.
Joining DJR Team Penske in 2017 spawned a successful period highlighted by three titles and a Bathurst win as he broke the record for most wins in an Australian Touring Car Championship season previously held by Craig Lowndes.
Finishing a shattered runner up in 2017, McLaughlin sought redemption and succeeded to win three titles in a row. Providing the Ford Falcon nameplate a successful farewell, McLaughlin was dominant during the Mustang era as he further progressed within Penske to race IndyCar.
Last year’s Rookie of the Year and already a multiple race winner, McLaughlin has earned praise from many of his illustrious rivals, including ex-Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean.
However, Pukekohe was a happy hunting ground for the local hero as he achieved two victories and nine podiums across 20 races at the venue during his stint in Supercars.
“Really sad to see Pukekohe Raceway being told their time as a motorsport venue will finish in early 2023,” McLaughlin said reacting to Pukekohe’s closure.
“I’ll never forget watching Murph on the hill in 2001, it was the first time I’d seen a V8 Supercar live. It lit a fire in me that’s still burning today to be the best racing driver I can be. Some of the memories I have there racing myself I’ll never forget.
“Thank you Pukekohe and thank you to the NZ fans that always made it special racing there.”