Bathurst 1000: Scott McLaughlin relishing leading the Ford Mustang revival at the mountain
The Mustang’s last appearance at Bathurst was way back in 1986 and Sunday’s hot race favourite Scott McLaughlin is determined to give the car a welcome home to remember.
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Scott McLaughlin has vowed to “stick it up a few Holden teams” and give the Mustang a welcome home party to remember in the iconic car’s long-awaited return to Mount Panorama.
More than 30 years after the famous Pony car last turned laps in Australia’s greatest race, the Mustang has returned to open a new chapter in the Ford icon’s proud motorsport history in the 1000km classic after a dominant re-entry to the Supercars championship.
The Mustang’s last appearance at Mount Panorama in 1986 when it was raced by DJR Team Penske co-owner and Supercars legend Dick Johnson.
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Already making a statement after McLaughlin’s record-setting pace in practice and fastest time in Thursday’s qualifying, the Mustang’s return to the mountain follows a commanding year for the car with 20 wins from 24 races so far.
McLaughlin was determined to give the Mustang a welcome home to remember at the mountain.
“I’d really love to stick it up a few Holden teams and have a crack,” McLaughlin said.
“We were told last year to build a better car and we did, we came back and then our ears haven’t stopped being hurt since the day that we put it on the track.
“It wasn’t exactly the most popular design, but it has turned out to be a popular one because it is fast — except for the Holden people.
“It’s awesome to drive a popular car, everyone loves it, especially the Ford fans. Six of us get a chance to do that (drive the Mustang at Bathurst) and it’s especially cool to drive the No.17 at Bathurst which has got a lot of history here.
“I think it’s great for Ford. As a sport, it’s fantastic for the manufacturer to come here with an iconic car, but also for them to be back in the sport ... it’s great for the fans.
“For the sport it means so much and it means so much for me to me to bring some success to it.”
A motorsport history buff, McLaughlin said he would be proud to add the Mustang’s name of Bathurst champions.
“I have always been a big student (of the history) of Supercar racing, especially now I drive the No.17, I tried to learn it as much as I could before I joined the team,” McLaughlin said.
“It’s been 25 years since they (DJR) won and I would love to try and make it happen this year.”
There was no one prouder than Johnson when the Mustangs rolled out of the garages on Thursday for the opening practice session at Bathurst.
“It’s a great to see them back here at Mount Panorama,” Johnson said.
“They are a race-bred car. The car has been in racing since the day of its inception way back in the early ‘60s and they have had a lot of success all the way around the world.
“They are such an iconic car and that’s why we have got a lot of people with bums on seats here because they loved to see the Mustang.”
Johnson played a key role behind the scenes in helping bring the Mustang back to Supercars.
“It’s been a hell of a fight from day one to get it into a field,” Johnson said.
“It was a lot of work that went on behind the scenes to make it work, fit the chassis and things like that. There has been a great job done, not only by our team, but Tickford and in the US with Ford Performance in the US.
“Roger (Penske) is out here this weekend and I can tell you something, it (winning Bathurst) is on his bucket list,” he said.
DJR Team Penske team principal Ryan Story said:
“Mustang has an unbelievable history in motorsport in Australia and throughout the world. It’s a world car, it’s been the world’s best selling sports car the last three years.
“Great story and we’re really proud to be a part of it and we’ve got great friends in Ford Australia and Ford Performance.
“No one deserves success at this place, you have to earn it, you need a little bit of luck on your side as well, no question but you really do have to earn and that’s what this weekend is about for us. We want to have fun and we want to let our hair down a little bit and go for broke.”