Christchurch teenager Scott McLaughlin says the notorious Pukekohe track will “reward the brave” and promises that will be his approach to the weekend’s V8 SuperCars action there.

The 19-year-old has proven the upstart of the season. He claimed an exhibition win in the Melbourne Grand Prix races and has five top 10 finishes in the points races to lie fifth on the table – the best of a strong Kiwi contingent.

McLaughlin’s promise was never in doubt after becoming the youngest SuperCars driver at just 16 in 2010.

He’s had to bide his time but now has a full time drive in a Holden with Fujitsu Racing GRM and is making the most of his opportunity.

“It’s been amazing,” he says of his strong start.

“I’ve just got to keep on the ball now. I’ve got to treat this round like nothing else and go as hard as I can and see where I end up. The car has been working good for me and the team have been great.”

Despite having lived in Australia for the past 10 years to further his career, McLaughlin is no stranger to Pukekohe, racing there in the New Zealand V8s and mastering it on his way to claiming the inaugural New Zealand SuperTourers title last year.

“While there have been a couple of changes, Pukekohe is a place I enjoy. It requires a lot of bravery and it’s a track that rewards the brave, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Will he be brave when qualifying starts today and the four races are spread over the weekend?

“You’ve got to do it, mate. I can’t wait.”

The notorious Pukekohe back straight might have had some sting taken out of it with two corners added but it’s still seen as an area of opportunity.

Whether that’s through flat-out speed or maneuvering under heavy breaking while negotiating the new twists in its tail, remains to be seen.

But McLaughlin is up for that sort of challenge.

Having idolised Greg Murphy, he is thrilled to be getting a taste of the limelight, particularly as the circus hit New Zealand.

He was in demand yesterday as the drivers got through a series of promotions in downtown Auckland, attracting big crowds.

He’s not wide-eyed, but he is lapping it up.

“I’m just having so much fun with all of this. To see all these Kiwi fans, it’s something I’ll never forget.”

He felt getting a full-time drive as the competition evened out with the Car of the Future concept, had helped him settle in and make an early mark. He was relishing proving his potential.

“I knew this season would be hard being my first year and stuff like that. But we are also on an even playing field now with the new cars. That’s great for me. It’s a real opportunity and I’m just trying to grab that.”

McLaughlin senses a podium in the real thing mightn’t be too far away, though he also knows he’s got so much to discover.

“I need to learn how to race these guys, to get a bit faster and see where we end up. We’re nearly there, the car is handling well. If we can fine tune things more, I think we’ll be right.”

McLaughlin is comfortable on the soft tyres, feeling they suit his style of driving and that is helping give his car an edge.

He’s also thrilled to have claimed the number 33 for this campaign, the same digits that served him so well through his successful karting career.

McLaughlin will certainly be a factor this weekend with hopes high of Kiwi success at Pukekohe where Murphy has dominated in the past.

With Fabian Coulthard coming off a double success in Tasmania, Shane Van Gisbergen on the pace and Jonny Reid a proven driver at this track, the New Zealand claims to trans-Tasman bragging rights will go up a gear this weekend.

There’ll be encouragement for the Kiwis in the statistics department, too, with perennial Aussie winners and team-mates Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes both never having tasted the champagne at Pukekohe.

And with more than half the field of drivers never having raced at the grand old lady of New Zealand race tracks, the odds of the Kiwis extending their early successes have rarely been stronger.