SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN
Scott McLaughlin had a bitterly disappointing experience at the end of last season.
Team: DJR Team Penske
Car: Ford FG X Falcon
Age: 24
Born: Hamilton
Races: 166
Pole positions: 33
Race wins: 16
Last year’s championship: Second
Prospects: Scott McLaughlin losing the championship to Jamie Whincup in the final race of the 2017 season from a commanding position was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the year from a New Zealand sporting point of view.
Surely though the likeable McLaughlin is destined to win the title one day and if his car is again one of the quickest and he has some better luck, there’s no reason why that shouldn’t happen in 2018.
FABIAN COULTHARD
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This may be Fabian Coulthard’s best opportunity yet to win the championship.
Team: DJR Team Penske
Car: Ford FG X Falcon
Age: 35
Born: Burnley, England
Races: 349
Pole positions: 8
Race wins: 9
Last year’s championship: Third
Prospects: Fabian Coulthard has reached the stage where he’s regarded as a veteran Supercars driver, but he’s coming off the back of his most successful year yet in the category.
Having McLaughlin as a team-mate has brought out the best in Coulthard, with the two Kiwis working well in the team, even though they’re both highly competitive. Coulthard should be there or there abouts again in 2018.
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN
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Shane Van Gisbergen is looking to make it two championships in three years for him.
Team: Triple Eight Race Engineering
Car: Holden ZB Commodore
Age: 28
Born: Auckland
Races: 329
Pole positions: 18
Race wins: 24
Last year’s championship: Fourth
Prospects: It was a great start to Shane van Gisbergen’s title defence in Adelaide last year, winning both races in Adelaide, but the rest of the season wasn’t so good and he was only ever on the fringes of being in contention for the title. Still, van Gisbergen will be exceptionally quick this year and will be in a team set on seeing off the challenges from Tickford Racing and DJR Team Penske.
RICHIE STANAWAY
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Richie Stanaway has decided to focus his career in Supercars, rather than in Europe.
Team: Tickford Racing
Car: Ford FG X Falcon
Age: 26
Born: Tauranga
Races: 8
Pole positions: 0
Race wins: 1
Last year’s championship: 28th
Prospects: Over the past two seasons in the endurance rounds Richie Stanaway proved that he belonged in Supercars and he’s been rewarded with a seat in one of the top teams.
He’ll go from driving against mainly co-drivers, to those in the main game, but there’s no reason why he won’t hold his own, even though he’s suggested it’s going to take him a year to be competitive.
ANDRE HEIMGARTNER
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Andre Heimgartner joins Nissan this season after previously driving a Ford and Holden in the category.
Team: Nissan Motorsport
Car: Nissan Altima
Age: 22
Born: Auckland
Races: 62
Pole positions: 0
Race wins: 0
Last year’s championship: 46th
Prospects: Up until last year’s Bathurst 1000 Heimgartner’s Supercars career looked to be over. But an injury to Ash Walsh led to him getting an opportunity to partner Tim Slade and he excelled at the Great Race.
When he was last a full-time driver, with the low budget Lucas Dumbell Motorsport team, it was no surprise he struggled. Now he’s at a team with serious money behind it and we’ll get to see just how good he is.
Source :Stuff.co.nz
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