McLAUGHLIN ACCEPTS WINNER’S PLAQUE

Scott McLaughlin accepts winners plaque – Photo: Garry O’Brien

The traditional ceremonial unveiling of the winner’s plaque from the previous year’s Bathurst 1000 was not possible this year due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

By GARRY O’BRIEN

Normally the event takes place in front of the Bathurst Civic Centre in the lead up to the great race but this time, it was a far less and more informal presentation performed in front of the DJR/Team Penske pit garage.

Bathurst Regional Council Mayor Bobby Bourke made the presentation to 2019 winner Scott McLaughlin while his co-driver Alex Premat will have his forwarded on by the team as due to travel restrictions the Frenchman is absent this year.

McLaughlin will be attempting to secure back-to-back Bathurst victories and relished the fact his third Supercar Championship is locked away arriving at Bathurst.

“I guess I can take a few more chances than I would if the championship was on the line,” he said.

“It is disappointing not having the fans here but once you are out on the track that goes away, particularly with the shootout. There is nothing like getting two minutes or so of this track to yourself.”

McLaughlin will be on a busy schedule as the weekend wraps up. He has to be in Sydney on Sunday night for a flight to America on Monday in preparation for the following weekend’s IndyCar race in St Petersburg.

Joined by new co-driver Tim Slade for this year’s event, McLaughlin is confident the former Brad Jones Racing driver will have a handle on the improved DJR Team Penske Mustang at The Mountain.

“He is just out of a full-time drive where he was very competitive and had driven the car. It has been refined since and is even easier to drive now,” he said.

Slade believes he’s prepared well for the upcoming race, even if the current climate hasn’t allowed testing and explained his relationship with McLaughlin that started when the Kiwi was racing in Supercars’ second-tier.

“Scotty was in the Super2 Series while I was in Championship and both our cars shared the same transporter,” recalled Slade

“I have managed to get some laps in at Queensland Raceway (in other cars) and done a bit of karting as well as being on the simulator.”

For more of the Supercars motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.