McLaughlin reunites with title-winning Ford
Scott McLaughlin has been reacquainted with his 2012 Dunlop Series title-winning Ford FG Falcon in Adelaide.
McLaughlin is on site at the VALO Adelaide 500 as event ‘fanbassador’ , and is also part of the weekend broadcast team.
The Kiwi won the 2012 development series aboard the Stone Brothers Racing-built Falcon.
The Falcon still races to this day in the hands of Jason Gomersall in the Super3 category.
The car has been restored to McLaughlin’s 2012 livery, complete with the now-IndyCar driver's #93.
Matt Stone Racing co-owner Gomersall took McLaughlin’s number for the weekend in place of his regular #35.
MSR operates the car out of its Yatala base in Queensland.
The car had to be repaired prior to the livery restoration due to a heavy crash at Sandown.
Gomersall crashed late in the Sandown finale in August, with the car picking up hefty damage.
He then bounced back with third at the Bathurst round in October.
McLaughlin reunited with the car on Friday morning, and was impressed by the livery.
The 29-year-old was even taken aback by details such as the #93 — a nod to 1993, his year of birth.
It comes after McLaughlin was reunited with his 2018 Supercars title-winning Falcon in the United States.
“Thanks for doing this,” McLaughlin told Gomersall.
“It means a lot to me and my family… thanks for even thinking about it.”
The 2019 Bathurst winner signed the dashboard of the Falcon, and a set of overalls.
McLaughlin won the 2012 title in the car after a thrilling season-long battle.
Current Supercars drivers Nick Percat, Chaz Mostert and Scott Pye filled the top four behind McLaughlin.
All four drivers graduated to the main game in later years, McLaughlin winning championships in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
McLaughlin made his Supercars debut in the 2012 enduros with Tekno Autosports.
He was parachuted into a Garry Rogers Motorsport Commodore shortly after he title win when Alex Premat was taken ill.
McLaughlin signed the dash
GRM then picked up McLaughlin for the 2013 Supercars season, and he won races at Pukekohe and Queensland Raceway.
McLaughlin and Premat would later combine to win the Great Race in 2019.
The Dunlop Series is now comprised of Super2 and Super3, with another title fight the headline act.
Five drivers are in mathematical contention for this year’s Super2 crown.
Drivers will tackle two 19-lap races at the Adelaide Parklands Circuit this weekend.
Dunlop Series qualifying for Race 2 will commence at 4:40pm local time.
The first race of the weekend will start at 1:55pm local time on Saturday, with Race 2 starting at 1:25pm on Sunday.
