MOTORSPORT: McLaughlin set for Bathurst 1000

Scott McLaughlin is on track to return to Supercars for the rescheduled Repco Bathurst 1000 in November.

The change to the championship calendar has cleared the way for the former winner at Mount Panorama, and three-times Supercars series champion, to rejoin Shell V-Power Racing for the biggest event on the Australian motorsport calendar.

There were serious doubts about McLaughlin returning in 2021 because of the traditional October date for Bathurst, which was a tight fit with his IndyCar commitments and potential quarantine requirements.

But the move of the Great Race to November 4-7 has removed the biggest obstacle.

“The change in the calendar has certainly made the likelihood of us being able to get him here much, much greater,” the chairman of Dick Johnson Racing, Dr Ryan Story, confirmed to carsales.

“Scott is keen as mustard. We’re making every effort to make it happen.

“We’re confident. But, at the same time, we have Alex Davison in place if there are any unforeseen hurdles.

“It’s still a process. We have to go through the appropriate approvals. And the COVID-19 situation in New South Wales for November is not clear yet.”

Story has deliberately downplayed the chances of McLaughlin returning to Supercars, waiting to see how his IndyCar adventure developed and also his various American commitments.

But now he is bullish about a DJR comeback with McLaughlin at the wheel in November.

“The only reason it won’t come off will be related to COVID requirements,” said Story.

He also confirmed that Roger Penske wants McLaughlin to return to Mount Panorama.

“Roger Penske wants it to happen. When Dick Johnson and I took over ownership of the team for this year it wasn’t simply a question of it being mooted that Scott would come back and race at Bathurst, it was something we all wanted,” he said.

And Story predicted that McLaughlin would have no trouble jumping back into a V-Power Ford Mustang.

“You simply cannot question or challenge Scott’s pedigree. He is a hugely talented driver. He is blistering fast around that track,” he said.

“Depending on how things play out, whether he has the ability to test before the event is unknown. But if the event takes a similar format to last year, with plenty of time for co-drivers to get comfortable, he will have no drama. His reactions and ability and race craft will be just fine.

“As fast as Supercars are, they are not quite as quick as an IndyCar.”