Dunlop Series Champion Scott McLaughlin has signed a multi-year deal to drive with Fujitsu Racing/GRM in the V8 Supercars Championship.
The 19-year-old Gold Coast-based Kiwi, who clinched the development category title at Sydney Olympic Park last weekend before receiving a late call-up to fill-in for Alex Premat in Fujitsu Racing GRM’s #33 Commodore in the Sunday race, was announced as one of the team’s 2013 drivers today.
McLaughlin is the latest in a long list of young guns signed by Garry Rogers, whose previous talent has included the likes of Steve Richards, Garth Tander, Jason Bargwanna, Lee Holdsworth, Jamie Whincup and Michael Caruso.
The Gold Coast-based Kiwi will also thus keep his links with air conditioning giant Fujitsu, which has backed him in the Dunlop Series since his debut in 2010.
McLaughlin made his V8 Supercars Championship debut this year at the Sandown 500 in September as co-driver to Jonathon Webb and the duo finished 10th before teaming to record a strong sixth place at Bathurst.
Last weekend’s season finale was McLaughlin’s first solo race start in the ‘main game’ and he kept out of trouble to finish 17th, one lap down on race winner Will Davison.
This year he won two rounds of the Dunlop Series on his way to finishing as champion in the development series, while he also claimed the title in the New Zealand-based V8 SuperTourer class in a Commodore.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on Scott for some time and his on-track approach has been very impressive,” said team boss Garry Rogers.
“He’s a level-headed young man who has shown great race craft and I was very impressed with his endurance racing this year, while his Dunlop Series championship speaks for itself.
“I think Scott will gel well with our boys and his experience driving the prototype Car of The Future last year will also be advantageous going forward.”
McLaughlin is chuffed with the news and will complete the final year of his trade apprenticeship at GRM as part of his new deal.
“This is what I have been working towards since moving up from karts in 2010 and the championship in my third year was always my focus, so to be picked up by Garry and his team and to be able to continue my relationship with Fujitsu is just fantastic,” he says.
“I started with SBR (Stone Brothers Racing) working in the race shop and it was a great insight into understanding the cars. To complete my fabrication apprenticeship within a race team will be really valuable.
“Garry is a ‘no BS’ type operator and the whole GRM environment will see me well prepared going into the 2013 season. I’ve had the most amazing year this year so this just caps it off perfectly and can’t wait to get started with the team just as soon as I can.”
Fujitsu Racing/GRM is yet to confirm McLaughlin’s teammate for the 2013 season.
