Young Kiwi ready for 300kmh-plus at Bathurst

Media release from BNT V8 SuperTourers

Wednesday 9 October

Young Kiwi ready for 300kmh-plus at Bathurst

SPEEDS over 300kmh could force a rethink for V8 Supercar drivers and teams at Bathurst this weekend, new Kiwi star Scott McLaughlin says.

Just 20, McLaughlin has burst onto the Supercar scene with three victories already in his debut year in the top category, and he has good reason to be looking for success in his second crack at the classic 1000km race at Mt Panorama, New South Wales.

“We were sixth last year, co-driving with Jonathon Webb,” he said. “It would be good to maybe try to beat that this year.”

McLaughlin, who is also the reigning champion in New Zealand’s BNT V8 SuperTourers series, said the kink in the Chase at the end of the long Conrod Straight was his favourite part of the dauntingly fast hillside circuit.

“Going through there is pretty awesome, real fast, good fun,” McLaughlin, who was born in Christchurch and raised in Hamilton, said. “Probably 299kmh we’ve done before but we’re going to be a bit faster this year apparently.”

The extra top speed could force officials to allow a change in the overall gear ratio, because otherwise the engines would be running on the rev limiter in top gear for extended periods.

Running on the rev limiter for any stretch of time is bad for the car as it makes the engine run unevenly.

“It just shakes the car to pieces,” McLaughlin said. “It depends how long we’re on the limiter for but we might have to change the gearing so we can keep rolling down there without hitting the limiter.”

That in turn would mean that drivers would have to work out different gear-shift points all round the long circuit, and possibly take some corners in a different gear from usual.

In spite of his youth McLaughlin has plenty of experience at Bathurst, a vital ingredient for success at the daunting track. As well as running in the main race last year he has three times competed in the Dunlop V8 Supercar Development Series support races there.

“It’s just good for me to come here with a little bit more experience, I feel comfortable around the place now,” he said.

McLaughlin and his Australian co-driver Jack Perkins both raced in the BNT V8 SuperTourers endurance event at Hampton Downs the weekend before last. Perkins, son of the great Larry Perkins, showed he had the speed as he won one of the legs, co-driving that time with Greg Murphy.

“It definitely helps, having the SuperTourers a couple of weekends ago, it’s good for me and also Jack,” McLaughlin said. “It’s pretty cool.”

The BNT V8 SuperTourers are similar to the current Supercars, and very nearly as fast.

At Hampton Downs McLaughlin’s car was badly damaged in a collision while Webb was driving but he expects it to be repaired in time for the next round, back at Hampton Downs the weekend after Bathurst.

For further comment please contact Bernard Carpinter on 0274-528-744 or Mike Marsden on 021-560-075

Attached photos are free to use. The action shot shows McLaughlin winning a V8 Supercar race at Pukekohe this year. The helmet shot shuld be credited to Geoff Ridder

ENDS

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