Returning to New Zealand off the back of a heavily demanding V8 Supercar schedule, Kiwi Scott McLaughlin heads into Round Four of the 2013 V8Supertourer championship this weekend on the hunt for vital series points.
As the sprint component of the seven round series draws to a end, McLaughlin – who solidified his name as a rising star in New Zealand motorsport during the 2012 championship confirmed “Taupo is an important weekend to us, it means gaining some necessary points. We’re throwing everything in come Sunday” as he takes to the track in his championship winning Supercheap Auto Holden.
McLaughlin, who flew into New Zealand yesterday, has been enjoying welcome media attention and during a visit to Auckland said today he was “excited to be back on home soil”. Commenting in several interviews, the driver dubbed ‘Prince of Pukekohe’ following his ITM 400 win earlier this year said “it was a confidence booster to have Tekno Racing Engineer Jeff Slater in the Supertourer team this weekend, and I know it will make a visible difference to my driving and determination to win at Taupo.”
To date this series, McLaughlin has made his way through 2013 self-engineering for the team but knows this hasn’t been ideal for focus. Confident with the addition of Slater, McLaughlin will be able to focus squarely and solely on the task at hand and “where it belongs” he says.
Jeff, who also engineered for McLaughlin with endurance partner Jono Webb in 2012 knows the car inside out, which has changed very little in set up, if at all in any way since Scott the car drove to victory in October last year.
“Points wise I think we’re sitting around 700 off Murph, but with drivers still yet to drop points from one round (a series requirement) it’s still very possible to dramatically improve our points standing, and that’s what we’re aiming for” says McLaughlin.
At the home track of Ford competitor Johnny Mac, McLaughlin quotes Van Gisbergen, Murphy and McIntyre as “the ones to beat, but we’re excited going in, and I’m itching to get back in that car.” “Taupo is a great track to drive, it’s wide, fast and long so there’s plenty of room to move and make some daring moves on” says McLaughlin “fans can expect to see the hammer down.”
Taupo Motorsport Park holds fond memories for McLaughlin being the track which sealed both his championship titles in NZV8’s in 2011 and V8Supertourers in 2012. McLaughlin is yet to announce his 2013 V8Supertourer endurance partner; however this is expected to be confirmed by the team late next week.
