Dalton adjusting to spotlight after Supercars debut

He was once a young fan chasing autographs, and Launceston product Lochie Dalton found the added spotlight off track the biggest adjustment in his Supercars debut in Sydney

Lochie Dalton in action during the Sydney Supernight over the weekend. Picture: Ben Roehlen/Pace Images

Lochie Dalton drove his parents nuts with posters of his motor racing heroes as a kid.

So it was a surreal moment for the Launceston product after he found himself signing autographs for young fans after making his Supercars Championship debut at the weekend’s Sydney Supernight.

The 21-year-old Tickford Racing driver is the youngest Tasmanian to race in the championship.

While comfortable behind the wheel, he admitted the extra spotlight off track was an eye-opener.

“It was definitely a big step up, and we always knew it was going to be,” Dalton said.

“The thing that probably shocked me most was how busy you are off track, all the signing sessions, the media, the appearances.

“You don’t get much time to do your own prep as much as you normally would.

“Just to see all the kids run up to you with your poster, that was pretty cool. My parents used to pull their hair out because I had all these posters through the house.”

Lochie Dalton signs an autograph for a young fan at Sydney Supernight. Picture: Ben Roehlen/Pace Images

Dalton enjoyed a sparring match with former Supercars series winner James Courtney who finished one spot in front in both races. Dalton registered 22nd place on Saturday and 24th on Sunday.

“The racing was awesome and it was pretty cool to be racing the likes of Mark Winterbottom. And I had a good battle with James Courtney, people I’ve been watching since I was seven,” Dalton said.

Dalton is based in Sydney and knows the track well, but he said racing during sundown was a difficult challenge.

“I’d never gone from dawn to night during a race and the sun was intense,” he said.

“It was blinding through some corners, sometimes I couldn’t see the exits.

“I was taking it a bit conservatively the first few laps. I didn’t want to try and do anything crazy, but next time I’d probably be more aggressive in the opening stages.

Lochie Dalton gets ready to battle. Picture: Ben Roehlen/Pace Images

“It’s a 50-50 because it’s like running a marathon, if you go too hard early you’re going to have nothing at the end. It’s nearly a game of chess really.

“My pace was quite good, but the other one per centers but getting in and out of pit lane and the first lap on cold tyres, that’s when the other guys made a lot of time on me.

“But when it came down to racing, we were pretty competitive.”

The next Supercars round is the SuperSprint at Symmons Plains next month, but Dalton is unlikely to be racing in the top flight on his home track.