New Zealand driver Scott McLaughlin won’t get a chance to drive for McLaren again this year.
McLaren GT boss Andrew Kirkaldy heaped praise on Scott McLaughlin after a superb drive at last weekend’s Bathurst 12 Hour race.
The 24-year-old Kiwi driver finished 11th overall, along with his co-drivers, but was hampered by dropping two laps early in the race because of a radio problem.
However, McLaughlin could only compete in the Pro-Am category because of a clash of sponsors, so it was unlikely he’d finish on the podium in the race won by Robin Frijns, Stuart Leonard and Dries Vanthoor in a Audi R8 LMS.
It was the first time McLaughlin had driven in a GT3 car and he excelled in it, even producing faster times than Shane van Gisbergen in the other McLaren 650S, in qualifying and the top 10 shootout.
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“He was absolutely fantastic. Really, really good,” Kirkaldy told Supercars.com of McLaughlin.
“In the car he was just superb.
“He didn’t put a foot wrong the whole time he was here and it’s great to see someone get out of a car with a massive smile on his face.
“He’s such a great guy to have around, he’s so enthusiastic about it all, he just loves it.
“I’d love to have him in the car again, if we could,” he added.
“We talked a year ago about having him do something here [Bathurst], but sponsor clashes meant it didn’t work.”
McLaughlin is keen to get behind the wheel of a GT car again, but for him the priority is the Supercars title and any other racing has to be approved by his DJR Team Penske team.
For van Gisbergen, who had to retire before halfway at the Bathurst 12 Hour because of overheating issues, he has more flexibility with his racing schedule and Kirkaldy said he’ll race again for McLaren this year.
“I can’t say what at the minute, because he has to clear things at his end, but I’d like to do something this year with him in Europe,” Kirkaldy told Supercars.com.
The most likely race for van Gisbergen is the Spa 24 Hours race in late July, as it falls between the Supercars rounds in Ipswich and Sydney.
– Stuff
Source :Stuff.co.nz
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