At 26 years of age, Scott McLaughlin hit the peak of his powers in 2019.
The New Zealander seemed destined for Supercars stardom, from making his debut in the Dunlop Super2 Series as a baby-faced 16-year-old in 2010 to winning races in his first full-time season in the Supercars main game in 2013 to finishing in the top 10 of the championship in each of his seven full-time seasons, having won races across two teams, four different cars and three manufacturers.
The move to DJR Team Penske in 2017 and the partnership with engineer Ludo Lacroix elevated him to the next level, leading to the record-breaking run of 2019 that saw him win a second consecutive championship and the Bathurst 1000 for the first time.
This is the story of his season, the key players, the factors in his success and what the future holds for the two-time champion.
THE TEAM
McLaughlin’s second title marked the first consecutive championship defeat for Triple Eight Race Engineering since the start of its dominant run in 2008.
The rise of DJR Team Penske is incredible when put in the context of the near demise of Dick Johnson Racing in the 2012-2013 off-season. While many point to the arrival of Team Penske as majority owners in 2014 as the salvation for Dick Johnson’s team, it was, in fact, the work of Ryan Story which saved the team and had it in a position where it was a worthwhile investment for the likes of Team Penske.
DJR Team Penske has been on the rise ever since, despite scaling back to one car for its first season in 2015 and the initial setback of Marcos Ambrose stepping down after just two rounds.
What followed was a concerted rebuild to inject new life into what had become of Dick Johnson Racing, with steady gains through the second half of 2015 and in 2016, following the expansion back up to two cars.
Esta historia es de la edición December 2019 - January 2020 Issue 114 de V8X Supercar Magazine.
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Esta historia es de la edición December 2019 - January 2020 Issue 114 de V8X Supercar Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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The F1 Legends At The Mountain
The recently departed Sir Stirling Moss is recognised as the best Formula 1 driver never to win the drivers’ world championship, but his illustrious career extended to many other categories, including an often forgotten appearance in the Bathurst 1000 alongside another legend of the sport.
Right On Track: Sprinting Back Into Action
The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship returns with shorter sprint races on the reworked calendar in 2020.
Beyond The Wheel: Racing Virtually
Racing online in the BP Supercars All Stars Eseries was a new experience for me. While there were some carryover traits from racing in real life, there were also some significant differences.
Top 10 Seasons
Top 10 Seasons
The Inside Story: The New Normal
As we prepare for the return of racing, the whole Supercars pitlane is wondering how things will look. And work.
Top 10 (Multi-Car) Crashes
10 mount panorama circuit 2014
TOP 10 MAKES
TOP 10 MAKES
VIRTUAL MOVES
The BP Supercars All Stars Eseries provided some racing during the suspension of the season, paving the way for more regular virtual contests.
VIRTUAL REALITY
The BP Supercars All Stars Eseries has paved the way for Supercars to further embrace virtual racing, opening up an important avenue to attract and engage with new audiences for the category
1960 – 2020 TOP 60 DRIVERS
Who are the greatest drivers in the 60-year history of the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars? We rank the top 60 with an emphasis on best championship finishes, race-winning percentage and competitive longevity. Only drivers with top 10 championship finishes were considered, to emphasise championship performances over part-time or endurance campaigns. Also, results from the Bathurst 1000 and other endurance events were only factored in when they were part of the championship.
