Supercar champion Scott McLaughlin’s exit from the Australian Championship to pursue a career in the United States has been confirmed
McLaughlin, who is set to make his debut in this weekend’s IndyCar Series Finale on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., will not return to defend his crown in 2021
Instead, he’ll be part of a four-car Team Penske squad for next year’s IndyCar series
« I am so excited to have the opportunity to take the next step in my career and compete with some of the best drivers in the world in the IndyCar series, » McLaughlin said in a statement confirming that the American billionaire Roger Penske is also ending his association with Supercars
Penske, a global motorsport giant who won a record 18 Indy 500 races as a team owner, ventured Down Under in partnership with Dick Johnson Racing in 2015
New DJR Team Penske have achieved 56 race victories, with McLaughlin having won the last three championships as well as the 2019 Bathurst 1000
McLaughlin leaves Supercars as one of the greatest drivers in championship history despite only racing in eight full seasons
The 27-year-old is fourth on the league’s career winning list with 56, while his 76 pole positions put him second overall
Some fans believe Holden’s demise marks the end of Australian motorsport as we know it It may be, but upcoming regulations mean change is to be expected regardless
« Obviously this is a sad time for a lot of us, » McLaughlin said in a message to fans
« It was a crazy race I was very lucky to have joined a fantastic team with fantastic people in 2017 while they were on the rise
« I’m sure I’ll be back for Bathurst, if anyone wants me as a co-pilot [I would] definitely like that »
The New Zealander will join Australian Will Power, alongside Josef Newgarden and Simon Pagenaud, in Team Penske Indycar’s 2021 roster
Dick Johnson Racing has announced that he will compete in the 2021 Supercars Championship under his own badge on the 40th anniversary of his first entry into the sport, with co-owners Dick Johnson and Ryan Story at the helm
« As we move into the next chapter of DJR, we look forward to what lies ahead for our team, » team founder Dick Johnson said in a statement.
« It has been an honor to partner with Roger Penske and all of the Penske team over the past six seasons, but we understand the challenges everyone has faced in the world in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
« We are grateful that we were able to conclude our partnership with our third pilot and team championship this season »
History has said that the partnership between Team Penske and Dick Johnson Racing represents « the best of any sports organization in Australia and New Zealand »
« DJR is well positioned to move forward and we are more motivated than ever by the future of our team, » said Story
Fabian Coulthard is expected to remain in the Ford squad, with a replacement for McLaughlin to be appointed in the « near future »
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AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
Scott McLaughlin, Supercars Championship, DJR Team Penske, IndyCar Series
World news – AU – Defending champion Scott McLaughlin leaves Supercars
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
