Compared: McLaughlin, De Pasquale's first DJR seasons

Much was said and hyped about Anton De Pasquale’s move to the Shell V-Power Racing Team following the departure of Scott McLaughlin.

McLaughlin achieved all before him with the Ford team between 2017 and 2020, winning 48 races and three drivers’ titles.

The Kiwi was a proven talent before he arrived at DJR Team Penske, having made his name aboard Garry Rogers Motorsport Commodores and later, Volvos.

De Pasquale, meanwhile, took time to come into his own at Erebus Motorsport, but arrived at Stapylton a highly regarded young driver.

Come the end of 2021, and De Pasquale was beginning to earn comparisons to the legendary McLaughlin, who is readying for his second full-time IndyCar season.

Ahead of De Pasquale’s second season in Shell colours, Supercars.com runs the microscope over the two drivers’ first respective seasons in Shell colours.

QUALIFYING

Poles: McLaughlin 16, De Pasquale 11Average start: McLaughlin 2.5, De Pasquale 4.1

McLaughlin became Supercars' qualifying king in his time at DJR Team Penske; between 2017 and 2020, he scored 59 poles.

The New Zealander will go down in history as one of Supercars’ greatest qualifiers; he owns four of the top five season pole hauls.

De Pasquale slotted into sixth all-time with his 11 poles in 2021, behind McLaughlin (16 in 2017, 15 in 2019 and 2020, 13 in 2018) and Jamie Whincup (13 in 2013).

De Pasquale, now 26, demonstrated his raw pace with 11 poles in 2021, helping DJR win its fifth straight ARMOR ALL Pole Champion Award.

McLaughlin’s first season in Shell colours featured a record 16 poles, including that lap in Bathurst.

He ended 2017 with 61.5 per cent of all poles. De Pasquale was 35.4 per cent in 2021.

McLaughlin also took poles at 10 different tracks in 2017; De Pasquale only raced at seven in 2021, but still managed to take pole at four.

RACING

Wins: McLaughlin 8, De Pasquale 6Podiums: McLaughlin 16, De Pasquale 13Laps led: McLaughlin 449, De Pasquale 171Average finish: McLaughlin 6.3, De Pasquale 8.6DNFs: McLaughlin 1, De Pasquale 5Top fives: McLaughlin 18, De Pasquale 17Top 10s: De Pasquale 20, McLaughlin 19Overall rank: McLaughlin 2nd, De Pasquale 6th

McLaughlin won in Perth at his seventh start in 2017, and De Pasquale in Tailem Bend at his 10th in 2021.

The two did their winning in very different ways; McLaughlin won at seven different tracks, and De Pasquale two.

Critically, De Pasquale’s first DJR season came as Shane van Gisbergen pieced together a career-best campaign of 14 wins.

McLaughlin ended the year with 33.3 per cent of all wins, and De Pasquale 20 per cent.

Both drivers spent a lot of time on the podium - more than their respective teammates - and even more time in the top 10.

De Pasquale admitted himself after the season that runner-up to van Gisbergen could have been possible had he had more luck in 2021.

Had he done so, on paper at least, he would have matched McLaughlin’s runner-up finish in 2017.

De Pasquale suffered five DNFs and an exclusion in 2021, costing him an estimated 650 points.

Add those points to his 2021 tally, and he beats Whincup to second behind van Gisbergen.

McLaughlin’s only DNF of 2017 was a big one, coming at Mount Panorama. He would lose the title to Whincup on the final day in dramatic and infamous circumstances.

With a full season under his belt in Shell colours, can De Pasquale match McLaughlin’s sophomore effort from 2018 and win the 2022 title?

The 13-event 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle next year. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

The 13-round draft calendar was released during the Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend.