Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin won’t give up on IndyCar dream
Defending Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin opens up on his racing future, new fitness regimen and what winning this year’s coronavirus-ravaged championship would mean.
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Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin has vowed to keep fighting for his IndyCar dream derailed by the coronavirus pandemic this year.
But opening up on his racing future, the DJR Team Penske star said he was still “scheduled absolutely” to continue as a Supercars racer in 2021.
Speculation was rife at the start of the year this season would be McLaughlin’s last in Supercars before a full-time move to race in the United States.
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After successful pre-season testing with Team Penske in the US, McLaughlin was due to make his IndyCar race debut at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in May before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
McLaughlin said it stung watching the postponed IndyCar Grand Prix he was meant to race in last month, but isn’t giving up on his US dream.
Travel restrictions and enforced quarantine periods on either side of the Pacific have all quashed any chance of McLaughlin competing in America this year.
“It did sting a little bit watching the Indy race that I was meant to be in a couple of weeks ago,” McLaughlin said.
“But hopefully if I do keep doing the right things over here that another opportunity will arise. I think in regards to potentially doing the (race) program that I was meant to do this year, Team Penske and Roger (Penske) will give me every opportunity they can (next year).
“At the end of the day I have got a great job here in Australia and I have always said that so I’m pretty happy here, but I would love the opportunity and who knows when that will be.
“I am scheduled absolutely to be a Supercars racer (in 2021) and I’ve got a contract here. I know I am well looked after here and it’s just a matter of what goes on in this pandemic.”
McLaughlin had shed more than 10kg this year ahead of his impending IndyCar debut, prompted by a need for drivers to be light in the single-seat cars.
He revealed he had dropped the weight with the help of intermittent fasting, cutting out the sweet treats and training six days a week with his wife, Karly.
“I guess IndyCar was the inspiration for that but I just feel better for doing it,” McLaughlin said. “I am a big advocate for intermittent fasting … I basically eat for eight hours during the day and then fast for 16. It’s been a good program for me.
“I’m training a lot harder, six days a week now, where I was probably only doing four days, maybe five. My wife Karly has been pushing me, she’s training hard as well, it’s been a good little team effort I’ve enjoyed.”
After claiming the past two Supercars championships, McLaughlin again leads this year’s series, which has also been ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
He holds a 107-point lead over seven-time champion Jamie Whincup.
Despite the pandemic forcing the cancellation of races and a shortened championship, McLaughlin did not believe this year’s winner would have an asterisk against them.
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“If anything it almost means more than any championship because it’s a full team one and that’s what is really cool about it,” McLaughlin said.
“Regardless of how the championship runs, you have got to be good over a long period of time and consistent and more so if anything, this pandemic and the way we have had to manoeuvre around and do double headers, the teams have really had to gel together.
“If anything it almost means more than any championship because it’s a full team one and that’s what is really cool about it.”