McLaughlin Bathurst lap earns global applause
Scott McLaughlin’s record lap of Mount Panorama in last weekend’s Top 10 Shootout turned heads well beyond Bathurst, with leading drivers around the world giving it their tick of approval.
The Shell V-Power Racing driver turned a 2:03.8312s to take pole for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, a new lap record and the first sub-2:04s Supercars lap of the 6.213km circuit.
While McLaughlin’s tilt unravelled on Sunday with an engine failure ending his race with co-driver Alex Premat behind the wheel, he admitted he had revisited the stunning lap multiple times.
“I’ve definitely watched it a lot,” he said on Inside Supercars this week.
“It’s hard not to watch it, I enjoy it a lot. You get a chance to have a go at that, at that track and really have a massive crack, it was really awesome.”
Through the power of social media, the lap has been watched more than 1.1million times online, including by some of the biggest stars in NASCAR.
Amazing lap. So much respect for the talent these guys possess. Bathurst is nasty. https://t.co/3AGrCAwh9t
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) October 9, 2017
Really nice work.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) October 9, 2017
Watching fans in Australia react to racing reminds me American fans in the early 90s. Amazing https://t.co/lN8wv8eKOr
In Europe, ex-Formula 1 driver and current DTM racer Timo Glock led the praise.
That’s just great to watch! @Mark_Skaife something to learn next time when I come over ? https://t.co/E3hlGfvtJS
— Timo Glock (@realTimoGlock) October 7, 2017
Glock has experience of Mount Panorama from contesting this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour in a BMW GT car alongside Mark Skaife, Russell Ingall and Tony Longhurst.
Two-time DTM champion Marco Wittmann, who also raced a BMW at the 12 Hour agreed it was “quite an awesome lap”.
Mercedes DTM driver and former Erebus Supercars pilot Maro Engel offered his congratulations to both cars on the front row.
Massive congrats to @smclaughlin93 for that incredible lap ?????? but also to @daffidreynolds & @ErebusV8 for a great front fow start ????
— Maro Engel (@MaroEngel) October 7, 2017
Indycar race winner - and a Supercars international co-driver on the Gold Coast in 2012 with Dick Johnson Racing - Max Papis offered his take while 1992 British Touring Car Champion, Tim Harvey declared it “impressive”.
Art in motion @supercars @smclaughlin93 BAD ASS https://t.co/p4FrGiPVXE
— Max Papis (@maxpapis) October 9, 2017
The likes of reigning LMP1 World Endurance Championship winner Marc Lieb, NASCAR’s Chase Elliot, BMW DTM driver Tom Blomqvist and GT ace Chris Mies retweeted or liked McLaughlin’s lap on Twitter.
When the dust settled on the event on Monday, McLaughlin revisited the lap on Twitter, with more drivers reaching out to offer their praise.
Mega lap man!
— Will Power (@12WillPower) October 9, 2017
The 2014 IndyCar Champion's rival James Hinchcliffe said he had “chills” and that it was “so cool to watch”, while Oliver Gavin - a Bathurst podium finisher - said it was an “amazing lap”.
