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A different side

24 May 2016
James Moffat explains what he’s learned about mate Scott McLaughlin when asked about their relationship on Inside Supercars.
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Moffat on Scotty and the S60

James Moffat says he has seen a different side of good mate Scott McLaughlin now they are teammates at Garry Rogers Motorsport.

When the announcement of their pair-up was made last year, boss Rogers said he almost didn’t sign Moffat knowing the drivers were close mates.

On Inside Supercars tonight, the Volvo new recruit explains what it’s like racing with the talented 22-year old, particularly given he has been the number one at the team for the last few years.

“It’s definitely been a situation where I’ve seen a different side of Scotty that I hadn’t seen before, obviously just being friends outside the team environment,” Moffat told the Inside Supercars panel. 

“We definitely go about our racing quite a bit differently. It’s fair to say I’m probably pretty intense about it and focused, I think I try to focus as much as I can.

“Scotty is a bit more relaxed and jokes around a bit more, but at the same time knows when he has to get on with it. Clearly, what he’s doing at the moment [works], he’s doing it pretty well, so he doesn’t need to change anything he’s doing.”

Moffat is still adapting to the Volvo S60, and with a different driving style to his teammate, he has a bit to work on.

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The 31-year old spent the last three seasons with Nissan steering the Altima, and earned the group’s maiden new gen win in 2013 at Winton. His best this year has been a seventh place finish at Phillip Island.

“There’s been a few moments I’ve been close to unlocking the secrets to getting the speed and the feel out of the car that I need. On a whole I have been struggling a lot with it,” he said.

“Clearly Scott and I have a different driving style … obviously the team’s had the opportunity to develop the car around Scotty for the last three years and he and Richard [Hollway, engineer] work very well together… The chemistry those two have is very strong." 

McLaughlin is currently second in the Championship, 27 points adrift of Mark Winterbottom. The Volvo driver is one of just two double race winners this season with Tim Slade, and could be a solid contender for the title this year.

“Scotty, and particularly that side of the garage, are doing a fantastic job at the moment,” Moffat said.

"And I’d like to be in a situation where my performances are a bit better and I can be up there hopefully taking some points off some guys he’s fighting with in the championship because at the moment we’re a bit further down the field.  

“So it’d be great to be in a position that hopefully I can be up the front and help Scotty a bit."

For much more from Moffat, tonight’s second guest David Reynolds and expert journalist Bruce Newton, tune in to FOX SPORTS 506 from 7.30pm this evening.

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