MOTORSPORT: McLaughlin edges closer to Supercars title

Ford Mustang driver Scott McLaughlin could secure his third consecutive Supercars championship next weekend if he can continue his dominance over factory Holden Commodore driver Jamie Whincup.

McLaughlin entered last weekend’s sprint round at The Bend in South Australia leading Whincup by 143 points and exited 215 points up.

If the DJR Team Penske driver extends that to 300 points or more next weekend in the second leg of The Bend doubleheader he will be able to race freely at the Bathurst 1000 in mid-October secure in the knowledge he cannot be beaten for the title.

“It (300 points) is within reach if Jamie has a bad race … but we are just focusing on just trying to make the job easier for ourselves down the track and if it’s bigger than what it is now that would be fantastic,” said Mclaughlin.

McLaughlin’s weekend wasn’t as dominant as his substantial points lead suggests.

Whincup knocked him out of the lead on the first lap of the first race on Saturday afternoon – for which the Triple Eight driver received a 15-second penalty – then McLaughlin himself copped 15 seconds for spinning fellow Mustang driver Lee Holdsworth during his fightback through the field.

McLaughlin ended up finishing the race 14th and Whincup 18th.

In race two on Sunday, McLaughlin made it to third place while Whincup was a disappointing 17th after a botched pit stop.

In race three, McLaughlin took the lead and was never seriously challenged for the win, while Whincup made it to third.

“We made too many mistakes as a team and from the driving side of things this weekend,” Whincup said. “We have some work to do this week to get more pace out of the car and minimise the mistakes.”

Racing at The Bend for the first time on soft Dunlop control tyres, the Supercars produced at time brilliant racing.

The Saturday afternoon event was won by the unexpected trifecta of McLaughlin’s team-mate Fabian Coulthard, Tickford’s Jack Le Brocq and Walkinshaw Andretti United rookie Bryce Fullwood.

The track’s sequence of long high-speed right-hand corners produced severe blistering of left-rear tyres of many cars and that made for some intense moments.

In the first race as many as four cars were stacked behind factory Holden driver Shane van Gisbergen defending fiercely on tyres well beyond their best.

Twice Le Brocq tried to pass around the outside and got pushed off the track. Finally, Coulthard figured out how to get by the Holden, recording a win in his 200th round start and his first since Western Australia last year.

As the teams dialled in set-ups and drivers tried to be easier on the rubber, so the racing became less frantic on Sunday.

Van Gisbergen controlled the pace in the first outing, leading home Kelly Racing Mustang driver Andre Heimgartner, who passed both McLaughlin and Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert for second in one audacious move.

Heimgartner was strong all weekend and finished second overall on points. He could have had an even better tally if he hadn’t been spun by van Gisbergen in race three. Another 15-second penalty was dished out and Heimgartner fought back to seventh, but there was little sign of Kiwi brotherly love post-race.

Moments after van Gisbergen and Heimgartner’s clash, the midfield went mad with cars pirouetting and Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney out on the spot.

Clear of the carnage, Coulthard followed McLaughlin home to ensure he was the top point-scorer for the weekend.

It came the round after Whincup had suggested DJR Team Penske was a “one plus one” team, pointing to McLaughlin’s domination over Coulthard.

“We are always put up against the toughest in the category, obviously won two championships going for his third,” said Coulthard of McLaughlin. “You’ve got to remember he’s been flogging everyone, not just myself.”

Coulthard had the further satisfaction of DJRTP edging past Triple Eight in the teams’ championship. Winning that will enable the Ford team to reclaim the tactically important garages at the exit of pitlane in 2021.

2020 Supercars standings:
Scott McLaughlin – 2062
Jamie Whincup – 1847
Cam Waters – 1577
Shane van Gisbergen – 1555
Chaz Mostert – 1524
Fabian Coulthard – 1444
Nick Percat – 1425
David Reynolds – 1298
Lee Holdsworth – 1261
Mark Winterbottom – 1258