Former V8SuperTourer champion, Scott McLaughlin, and his Supercheap Auto racing team have decided to withdraw from the first round of the 2014 season, set to be held at Highlands Motorsport Park this weekend due to cost, time and lack of support.

Team manager, Wayne McLaughlin, said multiple factors influenced the decision to withdraw but the main concern was the shortage of track time the teams get in comparison to the cost.

“It is a huge expense for all of the V8SuperTourer teams to not only prepare their cars so quickly after the last round, but also to get all the way to Cromwell. So to only have two 12-lap races, and a single 20-lap race, meant it wasn’t worth it for us,” explained Wayne McLaughlin.

“We would have liked to compete at Highlands but it just doesn’t make good business sense from our perspective, to participate this time. And with only 12 cars confirmed out of it 19, it simply wasn’t worth the huge trip.”

Team driver, Scott McLaughlin, agreed with his team but says he hopes to compete at Highlands Motorsport Park soon and reiterates that this first round withdrawal isn’t indicative of the entire season, at this stage.

“I’m gutted that I won’t be at the first round but understand where the team is coming from. I’ve heard good things about the track [Highlands] so hopefully I can go there soon to have a crack.”

“We hope to be at the next round of the SuperTourers but we’ll wait and see what happens after this weekend,” McLaughlin added.

McLaughlin is supported in New Zealand by: Supercheap Auto, Ingham Driven Group, Bailey Ingham Accountants, Bulk Line Logistics, PPG, East Coast Bulk Haulage, Thermo King New Zealand, Castrol, PWR, Armour All, Michelin, Retreads, and BOC Gasses.