“I'M HERE NOW, THERE'S NO TURNING BACK”

HE’S STORMED SUPERCARS, BUT NOW SCOTT McLAUGHLIN FACES HIS TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET: INDYCAR. CAN THE KIWI REALLY MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN THE USA?

“I HOPE YOU’RE quoting me on this, because it needs to be said.” Scott McLaughlin clearly has a few things to get off his chest, and we’re here to listen. But don’t think the winner of the past three Supercars titles is unhappy. Speaking from his new home in Huntersville, North Carolina, and barely weeks into his new life in North America, the 27-year-old from Christchurch is comfortable, confident and still has an immense fire in his belly. He fits right in here.

Having conquered the Australian scene in a four-year juggernaut – he’s second only to seven-time champ Jamie Whincup for race wins (56) and pole positions (76), despite having contested half as many races (251 versus 501) – McLaughlin has hit ‘reset’ and goes into 2021 as an IndyCar rookie. Though not with some underfunded backmarker; he has the biggest name in American racing behind him.

McLaughlin is following his dream with the backing of the almighty Roger ‘The Captain’ Penske, who has left Supercars, selling his stake in Dick Johnson Racing Team Penske (now back to ‘DJR’) and taking its star driver with him. “I didn’t think I would be an IndyCar racer to be honest,” McLaughlin told Wheels. “I never thought [Team Penske] would ever think of me as that. In my head I was thinking, ‘If I’d like to go to America, I’d go to NASCAR, right…’ I just wanted to be in America.”