Supercars champ McLaughlin delivers on special promise
Freshly-crowned Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin says his breakthrough title win delivers on a promise he made to his late grandmother.

In an emotional reflection on wrapping up his maiden Supercars championship yesterday, McLaughlin talked about a deep connection with Australian Touring Car racing that extends back to his childhood in New Zealand and his childhood hero Greg Murphy.
He also dedicated the crown to his late grandmother, the 25-year-old explaining that he once promised her he'd add his name to the sport's roll of honour.
"I never had dreams of going to Formula 1 or anything like that," he said. "I dreamt of being on this [championship] trophy and the Bathurst trophy like my hero Murph.
"It's a pretty emotional day for my family. I promised my gran, before she passed away, that I'd do it for her, and I did it.
"It's been a pressure-cooker year. Last night I was struggling to get some sleep. I'm just so bloody proud to get it done, it's a massive weight off my shoulders."
From the editor, also read:
The title win completes a remarkable journey for McLaughlin, who debuted in Supercars as a 16-year-old in the second-tier Super2 series in 2010.
With so little circuit racing experience – he missed the first round in Adelaide as he hadn't graduated to a high-enough licence – his spot in the Stone Brothers Racing outfit wasn't without controversy.
However by the end of 2012 he was a Super2 champion, before becoming a main series race winner just six races into his full-time career with Garry Rogers Motorsport.
He headlined the GRM line-up through the Volvo era before departing to DJR Team Penske in 2017, coming devastatingly close to winning the title that year before getting it done this time around.
"I had a lot of haters before I started," he said. "Sixteen years old, I was a young kid, coming to Super2, we had tremendous backing from Fujitsu and whatever. I stalled on my first go and got hit up the arse and that didn't really help my cause.
"I think from that start, I've learnt. I've had the right people around me, whether it was Ross and Jimmy [Stone] or Garry Rogers.
"I owe a lot to them, especially Garry Rogers. He's been tremendous. When I left his team it was a hard decision, but he is the one who gave me my start and is still a massive supporter of mine today. We always chat all the time and had dinner a couple of months ago.
"It's been a whirlwind since I was 16. I'm now 25. It's amazing to get my first championship. It pays off mum and dad's hard work; my dad put his balls on the line business-wise to do it. If it didn't work out, he was in the crap, so I owe a lot to my mum and dad.
"It's a proud moment for us."

Scott McLaughlin, DJR Team Penske Ford
Photo by: Edge Photographics

Previous article
Lowndes left 'numb' after final full-time Supercars race
Next article
Reynolds was planning 'lunge' on Supercars title winner

About this article
Series | Supercars |
Event | Newcastle |
Drivers | Scott McLaughlin |
Teams | Dick Johnson Racing |
Author | Andrew van Leeuwen |
Supercars champ McLaughlin delivers on special promise
Trending
Supershots Bathurst
Sam Brabham drives BT-19 at Mount Panorama
Todd Kelly builds André's Bathurst 1000 engine
Can DJR still be a Supercars powerhouse after Penske?
Roger Penske's whirlwind Australian Supercars sojourn is over. After six seasons, three drivers' titles, three teams' championships and a Bathurst 1000 crown, The Captain has sold his controlling stake in Dick Johnson Racing back to the squad and walked away from the category.
Can Whincup be Triple Eight's ruthless leader?
Supercars' most successful team of the past 15 years is set for a radical shakeup next year when Jamie Whincup retires from driving and takes over the reins at Triple Eight. But does he have what it takes to be the new Roland Dane?
How a lifetime Supercars deal broke down in one year
David Reynolds inked what was effectively a lifetime deal with Erebus in 2019 – only to walk out a year later. What went wrong?
Why Supercars now needs a new "human salt harvester"
Scott McLaughlin has been a controversial figure in Supercars over the past few years but, as he heads off to a fresh challenge in IndyCar, the Australian tin-top series needs to find someone else to fill his drama-filled boots as the category enters a new era...
Why 2020 isn't McLaughlin's greatest title
Scott McLaughlin was quick to describe his third Supercars title as his best yet. But even though it didn't match the dramatic backstory of his 2018 triumph, there's a good reason for him wanting to control the narrative this time around.
Why a Bathurst finale is risky business for Supercars
The Bathurst Grand Final may provide Supercars its greatest spectacle yet – but there's a risk it will force the series to face a hard truth.
Why Scott McLaughlin must become an IndyCar driver
Scott McLaughlin, two-time and current Supercars champion, should have been making his NTT IndyCar Series debut for Team Penske at the GP of Indianapolis, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced a rescheduling that has put the brakes on his career switch. But David Malsher-Lopez explains why the New Zealander deserves this opportunity as soon as possible.
Tickford's 10-year wait for James Courtney
When the Supercars season resumes James Courtney will be a Tickford Racing driver – but it's not the first time the star driver has flirted with the famous Ford squad.