25 best Supercars drivers since 2000: #2 Scott McLaughlin

As 2025 gets underway, Supercars.com is ranking the top 25 drivers of the last 25 years, continuing with Scott McLaughlin, who comes in as our #2.

From a young age, Scott McLaughlin seemed destined for dazzling heights. However, few could have predicted just how good he would be, and how quickly he emerged as a powerhouse of Supercars and, later, world motorsport.

Thrust into a Tekno Autosport Commodore for the 2012 enduros, a teenage McLaughlin later closed out the Super2 title and was thrown into a Garry Rogers Motorsport car to substitute for an ailing Alex Premat at Homebush.

Quickly announced at GRM for 2013, the then Kiwi teenager stunned with victory at Pukekohe, before adding a second at Queensland Raceway. His exploits in GRM Volvos between 2014 and 2016 became stuff of legend, headlined by his remarkable Adelaide battle with Jamie Whincup.

However, McLaughlin's greatest moments came in Shell V-Power Racing Team Fords, led by a resurgent Dick Johnson Racing with the heavyweight backing of Penske.

Between 2017 and 2020, McLaughlin won 48 races, three championships and the 2019 Bathurst 1000, all by the age of 27. Penske brought him Stateside to live out a dream IndyCar opportunity, and he is now a title contender, justifying the move.

Scott McLaughlin's key stats since 2000

Years active: 2012-present

Rounds: 115

Races: 252

Best championship position: 1st (2018, 2019, 2020)

Best finish: 1st (56 wins)

Top three finishes: 106

Best start: 1st (76 pole positions)

Best Bathurst result: 1st (2019)

The highlight

A constant highlight reel, McLaughlin was box office from day one, be it winning at 19 as a rookie in New Zealand, putting Whincup to the sword in Adelaide, flying to countless poles and wins, and becoming a championship force.

A master over one lap, he claimed 76 pole positions, a tally which still remains second all-time behind Whincup. McLaughlin won from the first two rows of the grid 86% of the time, yet still put on some big efforts, none greater than his 2018 charge from 19th to victory in Perth.

In 2017, McLaughlin had taken 13 of 19 pole positions when he rocked up to Bathurst. Last man out in the Top Ten Shootout, McLaughlin had to chase David Reynolds' 2:04.2746s to claim a maiden Great Race pole.

In images that have now been etched into Supercars folklore, McLaughlin nailed a 2:03.8312s to put 0.44s on the field, leading to wild celebrations in pit lane. Greg Murphy, who set his 'Lap of the Gods' 14 years earlier, had a new contender for the 'greatest lap ever' throne.

The jury's out for many regarding which one is better. Murphy was already a two-time Bathurst winner, while McLaughlin was chasing his first win, and ultimately had to wait two more years. The cars had evolved, but the Mountain remained the same, hardcore challenge it had always been. On both occasions, both drivers were supreme, and must still pinch themselves to this day.

Why we picked him

The toughest part of the entire countdown was which star Kiwi ended up ahead. There was nothing in it, as there usually was on track. After much debate, given the sheer numbers of the other driver, McLaughlin

McLaughlin packed a hell of a lot into eight full-time seasons. Three championships, 56 wins, 76 pole positions, a Bathurst victory, and countless 'wow' moments. He evolved from rookie upstart, into a one-lap king and gritty racer, and was a hero for Holden, Volvo and, most of all, Ford.

There has to be no doubt that he'll one day be a Supercars Hall of Famer. Only Craig Lowndes won three titles at a younger age than McLaughlin, who was still only 27 when he decided to chase IndyCar.

It's also the manner in which McLaughlin achieved his successes. It was Supercars at its wild and flamboyant best, something Lowndes made famous through the 1990s into the 2000s. McLaughlin quickly earned comparisons to Lowndes, and fittingly matched his three titles.

McLaughlin was one of those drivers that fans bought tickets for, why fans turned up to watch. Whether he did something incredible, or something that fired up rival driver or teams' fans, there was a guarantee you'd get something memorable out of the New Zealander.

The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.