Defending Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin says his new Mustang delivered in its first big test

It was a Mustang 1-2-3 for fastest lap at Phillip Island as Ford’s new Supercars offering dominated testing. But the driver who clocked in fastest — with his last lap of the day no less — isn’t who you think.

David Campbell

2 min read

February 14, 2019 - 5:35PM

Scott McLaughlin enjoyed a great start in his new Mustang. Picture: Getty Images

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“We can get it faster.”

Defending Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin debuted his new Mustang publicly during testing at Phillip Island on Thursday and while he didn’t pick up the fastest lap of the day, all six of Ford’s new vehicles finished within the top 10 fastest laps for the day.

McLaughlin blitzed the fastest lap in the opening hour of testing with a time of 1.31.0656 before being eclipsed in the second hour by Holden trio David Reynolds, Scott Pye and Anton De Pasquale.

TURNED UP: REYNOLDS’ TESTING COMES TO EARLY END

TOP START: MCLAUGHLIN RAVES ABOUT MUSTANG

McLaughlin completed 55 laps in front of a huge crowd, recording the eighth-fastest lap for the day after failing to better his original time.

Top honours went to fellow Mustang driver and Monster Energy Racing star Cameron Waters who clocked a breathtaking time of 1:30.7265 on his last lap of the day.

Fabian Coulthard — McLaughlin’s teammate — came in with the second-fastest time by the end of testing, clocking in at 1:30.8976 with his own Mustang.

Scott McLaughlin in action at Phillip Island. Picture: Getty Images

Tickford Racing’s James Moffat, Chaz Mostert’s co-driver, made it a Mustang 1-2-3 with the third-fastest time lap of 1:30.9390.

McLaughlin said the Mustang had delivered in its first big test and he was confident he could make a competitive start to his title defence in Adelaide in two weeks’ time.

“It feels great. At the moment we’re just running through our program to try and get ahead of our schedule before we get to Adelaide,” McLaughlin said

“We want to get as much time to tune the new car as we can and today’s perfect, great weather.

“It doesn’t feel too much different (to the Falcon) and that’s always a good sign because you can understand the car.

Cameron Waters enjoyed the fastest lap of the day. Picture: Getty Images

“At the moment I’m pushing to what the grip has. So far it’s there or thereabouts and similar to what I’m used to so I’m happy but I’m sure that we can get it faster as well.”

Erebus Motorsport’s Reynolds had the fourth-fastest lap of the day with 1:30.9532 despite being forced to retire early after his car exceeded Phillip Island’s noise levels.

A possible muffler issue forced the Holden ZB Commodore’s noise output above 95dB and with no immediate solution available Reynolds and teammate Anton De Pasquale packed up early.

“It’s been the same muffler for a couple of years, it must just be the wind or the frequency or something,” Reynolds said.

“It doesn’t bother us, we’ve had a good day.”