Roger Penske, McLaughlin to quit Supercars, Anton de Pasquale to join DJR
Scott McLaughlin and Roger Penske have both quit Supercars in a bombshell double blow for Dick Johnson Racing. Now we can exclusively reveal who DJR has signed as a replacement driver as they prepare for record equalling fourth straight title.
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Scott McLaughlin and Roger Penske have both quit Supercars in a shock double blow for both Dick Johnson Racing and the sport.
In a bombshell departure double, Scott McLaughlin has signed a deal to race full-time in America while Penske Racing has relinquished its co-ownership in DJR/Team Penske after six years.
As the US motorsport giant announced it was not returning to the V8 series Saturday, Team Penske confirmed McLaughlin would race full-time in IndyCar from next year.
And The Daily Telegraph can exclusively reveal that Anton de Pasquale has been signed to replace McLaughlin.
Erebus rising star De Pasquale will join Will Davison at Dick Johnson Racing next year with Fabian Coulthard also leaving the all-conquering team.
Considered the next star of the sport, De Pasquale will be announced as McLaughlin’s replacement in the coming weeks while Davison will also return to both Dick Johnson Racing and the sport.
It is understood both drivers signed deals earlier this week after McLaughlin confirmed he had signed a deal with Team Penske to become a full-time Indy Car driver.
INDYCAR
McLaughlin will make his IndyCar race debut for Team Penske at the season-ending race on the streets of St Petersburg in Florida this weekend.
After more than a year of speculation about his next move, McLaughlin departs Supercars after clinching his third straight Supercars title with DJR Team Penske.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity to take the next step in my career and compete against some of the best drivers in the world in the IndyCar series,” McLaughlin said.
“The last four years racing for DJR Team Penske has been amazing.
“I want to thank every single person on the team, and everyone that has helped me reach this point in my career.
“I wouldn’t be in position to continue to chase my dream without the hard work of so many people along the way.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of joining one of the most iconic motorsports programs of all time – Team Penske’s IndyCar team. I wish the 2021 season would begin tomorrow.”
The exit of Team Penske will see the return of Dick Johnson Racing from 2021 in Supercars.
“As we enter the next chapter at DJR, we look forward to what lies ahead for our team,” said Johnson. “It has been an honour to partner with Roger Penske and everyone from Team Penske over these last six seasons, but we understand the challenges that everyone has faced worldwide in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re thankful that we were able to conclude our partnership with our third driver and team championships together this season. We want to thank Scott for his professionalism on and off the track. He is a generational talent and we are excited he will join us as a co-driver at next year’s Repco Bathurst 1000 in October.”
Johnson confirmed McLaughlin would return as a co-driver for the team at next year’s Bathurst 1000.
“We want to thank Scott for his professionalism on and off the track,” Johnson said.
“He is a generational talent and we are excited he will join us as a co-driver at next year’s Bathurst 1000 in October.
“We know Scott is in a great position with Team Penske for the future and we wish him all the luck in the world as he begins his IndyCar career.”
McLaughlin completes Team Penske’s four-car IndyCar line-up for 2021, alongside Will Power, Josef Newgarden and Simon Pagenaud.
The 27-year-old leaves Supercars as a three-time champion in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and a Bathurst 1000 winner after his controversial victory in the Great Race last year.
He also ranks fourth on the all-time Supercars list for race wins and second on the all-time list for pole positions.
DOUBLE BLOW WON’T BREAK US: DJR TO CONTINUE RECORD BREAKING BLITZ
—James Phelps
Dick Johnson Racing has declared that losing a billionaire backer and the sport’s best driver will not stop them from winning a record equalling fourth straight title.
Speaking exclusively to News Corp Australia following the double shock of losing Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske on the same day, DJR co-owner Ryan Story revealed his all-conquering team would not be cutting the racing budget that took them to a championship three-peat following the withdrawal of US tycoon Roger Penske.
“Our racing budget will not be affected,” Story said.
“We are in the fortunate position where all our major partners are locked and we will have continuity. All those big stickers on our car will be with us for some time to come. We are in an extremely healthy and strong position across multiple areas of our business and our racing program will not be affected by the news.”
Set to enter a 50/50 ownership agreement with Dick Johnson as DJR/Team Penske reverts to Dick Johnson Racing, Story admitted replacing Indy bound driver Scott McLaughlin would prove more difficult than the Penske withdrawal.
While he refused to divulge details of McLaughlin or Fabian Coulthard’s replacements, it is understood that Anton De Pasquale and Will Davison have already signed deals.
“It will take us time to find our feet with two new drivers,” Story said.
“Scott is an exceptional driver and he has been a big reason why we have won three championships in three years. He is one of a kind and can’t be replaced. But we are confident that we will find a worthy successor and that we will be able to build to the same success.”
Speaking from the US after announcing that he had both signed McLaughlin to an Indy Car deal and relinquished his interest in Supercars, Penske blamed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for his decision to quit DJR.
“We have enjoyed an incredible six season competing in the Supercars series with DJR Team Penske,” Penske said.
“Partnering with Dick Johnson and Ryan Story to form DJR Team Penske was an incredible experience that produced success on the track and in the boardroom.
“We have built so many lasting partnerships and friendships, and competing in Supercars has certainly helped strengthen our brand and our business in Australia and New Zealand.
“Unfortunately with the challenges we have faced in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to readjust our business initiatives for 2021 and beyond.
“We want to thank Dick Johnson, Ryan Story, Fabian Coulthard and all of our team members for their hard work and dedication as we re-established a championship organisation together over the last six years.
“I know that Dick, Ryan and the team will continue to build on that success moving forward.”
Since joining the Supercars series, DJR Team Penske partnership has won three drivers’ championships with McLaughlin, three teams championships and the 2019 Bathurst 1000 title.
The team will now return as Dick Johnson Racing in Supercars from 2021 with two Ford Mustangs with Erebus rising star De Pasquale to partner returning DJR driver in a formidable attack.
Ford legend Johnson said he understood Penske’s decision to leave.
“I want to thank Roger and the entire Penske organisation for all they’ve done for our team over the last six years,” Johnson said.
“While we hate to see them go, we understand the tough business decisions that have to be made.
“We’ve worked together over the last six years to build a team that has become the benchmark for performance both on and off the track.
“With the assistance of Roger and Team Penske we will be in position to build on that success. With the full support of Ford Australia, Ford Performance, Shell V-Power and all of our great partners, our team will continue to be a leader in Supercars racing.”
Originally published as Roger Penske, McLaughlin to quit Supercars, Anton de Pasquale to join DJR