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DJR WILL BE OK, SAYS DICK

DJR will be ok, says Dick Johnson - Photo: LAT

By Bruce Williams

DJR will be ok, says Dick Johnson - Photo: LAT

DJR will be ok, says Dick Johnson – Photo: LAT

With or without Penske or McLaughlin, Johnson says that his eponymous team will continue.

By MARK FOGARTY

Ford Folk hero and V8 legend Dick Johnson has lauded Scott McLaughlin as one of the all-time greats of Australian touring car racing, following the flying Kiwi’s third straight Supercars title success.

“Scotty’s one of a kind,” the five-time champion and triple Bathurst winner said. “He’s one of the best ever.”

Amid rampant speculation that McLaughlin will move to IndyCars as Roger Penske pulls out, Johnson also pledged the team he founded would continue.

He maintains the squad is safe without both of them.

“Absolutely,” Johnson declared. “We’ve been through many ups and downs in the career of this team and we’ve dealt with every one of them, so this one’s no different.

“The team’s future is secure, without a doubt.”

He confirmed that the make-up of what is now DJR Team Penske was under discussion, from drivers to ownership.

“These sorts of decisions as to the future of anything won’t be made until after Bathurst,” said Johnson, who assured his name – or at least his initials – would remain on the front of DJRTP’s race base at Stapylton, on the outer edge of Brisbane.

“That ain’t goin’ anywhere,” he said.

Johnson is a minority shareholder of DJRTP, which is 51 per cent owned by Team Penske. Local team boss Ryan Story is the major lesser partner.

Roger Penske bought DJR in late 2014 to promote his Australian transport and industrial powerplant interests.

Story is poised to take over ownership if Penske withdraws after six years, during which DJRTP has won three straight Supercars drivers’ titles and last year’s Bathurst 1000 with McLaughlin.

The team’s main sponsors – led by Shell and Repco – are already locked in for at least next year.

If Penske pulls out and McLaughlin moves to IndyCars, the new-look DJR will be looking for a replacement for its superstar and also Fabian Coulthard, who has been under pressure to perform better.

Front-running candidates are Anton De Pasquale and Will Davison.

Johnson rates McLaughlin as not only DJR’s best ever, but one of the all-time greats of Australian touring car racing already

“He’s a bloody good all-rounder. When I say all-rounder, I mean you can put him in a board room, you can put him in front of a television camera, you can put him in a race car where he is exceptional.

“Honestly, you’d have to put him in the league of some of the best drivers this country’s ever seen.”

Dick admits losing McLaughlin to IndyCar would be a major loss.

“If that happens, yes, it would,” he said. “To lose any driver of his calibre to any team would be a huge blow. The record shows he’s won three titles, but in fact it really should be four in a row, but that’s history and you can’t change history.

“Honestly, if that’s what happens, I will give him my blessing because you can’t stop someone making a career.”

Due to existing COVID-19 restrictions, Johnson is still undecided about whether he will attend Bathurst with the famous rock that made him a national hero 40 years ago.

McLaughlin, who is impressed by the size of the stone, which is on display in DJRTP’s showroom, would love to win on the 40th anniversary of The Rock incident and also DJR.

“It’s a big sucker,” he laughed. “For sure, it’d be very special.

“To be able to run the #17 and to be in that car for the 40th anniversary means a lot to me.”

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