McLaughlin's advice to SVG's rivals
Supercars drivers need to "stand up for themselves" against Shane van Gisbergen, says Scott McLaughlin.
Van Gisbergen continued his title defence at the Pizza Hut Winton SuperSprint, recording his ninth win in 15 races.
The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver will carry an extended 281-point lead to next month’s Merlin Darwin Triple Crown.
Twice at Winton, van Gisbergen was defeated by Cam Waters in final-lap showdowns.
Waters won Races 13 and 15, with van Gisbergen turning the tables on the Tickford ace in Race 14.
Van Gisbergen didn’t make it easy for Waters, applying pressure and using his signature bold overtakes on his rival.
It comes after a similar display in Tasmania in March, where van Gisbergen muscled past Will Davison and Waters en route to Race 3 victory.
McLaughlin defended his countryman's "hard racing" manoeuvres following that race, adding that van Gisbergen's rivals must be willing to "defend their line".
The same weekend, Van Gisbergen equalled McLaughlin's tally of 56 Supercar race wins.
Stateside IndyCar driver McLaughlin, a long-time adversary of van Gisbergen, has been following the Supercars action when his schedule allows.
"[Van Gisbergen's] in a different league right now," McLaughlin said in a press conference when asked by Supercars.com.
"He's doing such a good job, but at the end of the day, other teams are getting there.
"Tickford winning on the weekend, and then Will [Davison] getting his first one for the team in Perth.
"That was a long-awaited win for Will, and for sure, I’m always cheering on the DJR guys, but at the same time, I just enjoy the racing."
McLaughlin, who claimed three Supercars titles, is third in the IndyCar standings after five starts.
McLaughlin recently testing at Indianapolis
The 28-year-old will start this weekend’s Indianapolis 500 from 26th on the grid.
It was confirmed earlier this month that McLaughlin would not return for this October's Repco Bathurst 1000.
Having been on the receiving end of van Gisbergen’s attack in previous years, McLaughlin knows what the defending champion's rival drivers are up against.
"Shane’s racing well, and we always had great battles," McLaughlin said.
"I think there are a few guys that need to stand up for themselves against Shane because he's definitely commanding track position and doing his thing.
"But I think Cam did an awesome job holding him off when I watched the highlights towards the end of the final race.
"I thought it was awesome how he did that and it’s good racing in the championship.
"I’m excited to see what happens at the end of the season, that's for sure."
The 2022 season will resume in Darwin next month. Purchase your tickets now.
