Scott McLaughlin … out to break Holden stranglehold at the Clipsal 500. Picture: Daniel Kalisz (Getty Images)
NEW Ford recruit Scott McLaughlin will be out to break Holden’s four-year stranglehold of Clipsal 500 race wins this weekend.
McLaughlin was one of two drivers to move into the Ford camp this season from other manufacturers — his move from Garry Rogers Motorsport to DJR Team Penske making him one of the biggest threats for the championship this year.
The other driver to switch to the Ford camp was Jason Bright, who moved to Prodrive Racing Australia from Brad Jones Racing.
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Ford last won a Clipsal 500 in 2012, when Will Davison was driving for the manufacturer.
Holden has won every race since.
McLaughlin finished third in the championship in 2016, behind the two Red Bull Holden Racing drivers Jamie Whincup and Shane Van Gisbergen.
Whincup this week labelled DJR Team Penske as his team’s biggest rival this year.
McLaughlin says in the official Clipsal 500 program that he knows expectations are high but is looking forward to the challenge of living up to the Penske name.
“I still pinch myself to be driving for Roger Penske and Dick Johnson,” McLaughlin says.
“It was a bloody hard call to leave Garry and the GRM boys who I’ve grown up with, but the chance to race with this team was just too good an opportunity to say no to.”
Originally published as McLaughlin out to overthrow lion kings
