hero-img

McLaughlin's tribute to Pukekohe

20 Jul 2022
'It lit a fire in me that’s still burning today'
Advertisement

Scott McLaughlin has led a chorus of drivers paying tribute to Pukekohe Park Raceway.

It was announced Wednesday that Pukekohe will cease motorsport activities in 2023.

The ITM Auckland SuperSprint, on September 9-11, will be the final Supercars event at Pukekohe.

It was at Pukekohe that a teenage McLaughlin set a Supercars record which still stands today.

A 19-year-old McLaughlin broke through for his maiden Supercars win for Garry Rogers Motorsport.

McLaughlin became the youngest ever Supercars race winner, and he won again in Ipswich later that year.

It set the tone for a record-breaking career, with McLaughlin winning three titles and a Bathurst 1000 for DJR Team Penske.

Top 10 iconic Pukekohe moments

McLaughlin won again in 2018 and 2019, and also won the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy in 2018.

It was also at Pukekohe, in 2019, where McLaughlin broke Craig Lowndes' season wins record set in 1996.

The Pukekohe win was McLaughlin's 17th of 2019, and he extended it to 18 with victory at Mount Panorama.

McLaughlin has also supported

a petition to have iRacing scan the circuit to immortalise it for sim racers.

"Really sad to see Pukekohe Raceway being told their time as a motorsport venue will finish in early 2023,” the now IndyCar driver posted to social media.

"I’ll never forget watching Murph on the hill in 2001, it was the first time I’d seen a V8 Supercar live.

"It lit a fire in me that’s still burning today to be the best racing driver I can be.

"Some of the memories I have there racing myself I’ll never forget.

"Thank you Pukekohe and thank you to the NZ fans that always made it special racing there.”

Former DJR Team Penske teammate Fabian Coulthard, also a New Zealander, took a pole at Pukekohe in 2013.

Advertisement

Coulthard first raced at Pukekohe for Paul Morris Motorsport in 2006.

"So many memories racing at Pukekohe over the years,” Coulthard posted.

“It’s not often you get to race on track with so much character and history.

"Huge loss to NZ motorsport.”

Will Davison, who stepped in at Shell V-Power Racing Team in 2021 after McLaughlin and Coulthard, won in 2013.

Davison is one of four active drivers, along with Shane van Gisbergen, David Reynolds and Mark Winterbottom, to have won at Pukekohe.

Davison's late grandfather Lex raced against the likes of Jim Clark and Graham Hill at Pukekohe in the 1960s.

The Auckland circuit hosted the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1963-73, 1975-91 and 2000.

"Pukekohe one of the few circuits that no matter how many times I arrive at, I still feel the history,” Davison wrote.

"I love that and I'll miss it.

"I’ve had plenty of great memories racing at Pukekohe over many years, and it will be special to have one last hoorah in September."

The three-race ITM Auckland SuperSprint will be held on September 9-11.

Tickets for the New Zealand event can be purchased now through Supercars.com and Ticketek.

The 2022 season will resume at the OTR SuperSprint on July 30-31. Purchase your tickets now.

Related News

Advertisement