Scott McLaughlin hails wet weather progress for DJR Team Penske
Provisional pole sitter Scott McLaughlin has said he was surprised at his car’s pace after getting on top in the wet qualifying session for the Bathurst 1000 Supercars Championship race.
Previously never regarded as making fast cars in the wet, the DJR Team Penske #17 was able to take the top spot in qualifying despite the unfavourable conditions which saw McLaughlin’s team-mate Fabian Coulthard end the session in 16th.
Despite previously struggling in wet conditions, McLaughlin said he knew he was going fast when he was catching wet weather ace and Tickford Racing gun, Chaz Mostert.
“I much prefer a dry track, it was skatey out there,” he said.
“I was pretty nervous because we just haven’t been that good in the wet previously but we really tuned up the car with (tyre) pressures for a proper wet setup.
“It was great straight away; I was catching Chaz (Mostert) at the start and he’s a wizard in the wet and really fast so I thought ‘we’re on here’. I just tried to be as safe as I could and it worked out pretty good.”
With DJR Team Penske’s majority shareholder Roger Penske in town, McLaughlin says it’s good for “The Captain” to be at the track to see the progress his team continues to make.
“It’s just good that he’s seeing everything first hand, not second hand and the progress we’ve made with our wet car over the last six months.
“I think he was pretty happy with that but unfortunately, Fabs (Fabian Coulthard) didn’t get in the ten. He had a quick enough car probably too so we’ll work on that overnight for him and see if he’s strong in the race.”
Two practice sessions will build up to tomorrow’s Top Ten Shootout, kicking off at 17:05 with McLaughlin heading out on the track as the last car after taking the top time in qualifying.
