McLaughlin: I came to Penske at the right time

Following an inconsistent 2016 season, with Fabian Coulthard and Scott Pye bouncing between the midfield and the Top 10, DJR Team Penske has emerged as a regular front-running force this year.

The Symmons Plains round was the team’s biggest test so far, having struggled at the unique Tasmanian circuit last year, and it passed with flying colours, Coulthard winning Sunday’s race ahead of McLaughlin in a historic team 1-2.

The win prompted McLaughlin, who joined from Garry Rogers Motorsport in the off-season, to say that he’s lucky to have arrived right as the team has hit top form, and praise his teammate for the hard work done during the difficult ’16 season.

“I’m stoked for Fabian,” he said.

“I came in at the right time. I’m more stoked for him after the hard work he’s done, and I’m a very lucky boy to drive a car this good.”

Coulthard added that McLaughlin joining the team has forced him to up his game, and spurred him on to the two non-championship wins at Albert Park and the first points-paying win in Tasmania.

“Scotty is definitely pushing me and it has definitely made me raise the bar for my own personal achievements, but we have worked together really well as a team,” said Coulthard.

“Scott has been at the workshop a lot, we have a really good team environment, we are all working together.

“If there’s hype about Scott it’s no different to the hype around me when I joined the team this time last year. We’ve got a new toy to play with, and it happens to be Scotty.

“It has been good for the team and I am really happy with how its going.”

When asked if the massive turnaround in Tasmania compared to last season was a sign that DJRTP was a true Supercars force, Coulthard said: “We will just keep improving our car week-in and week out, we just focus on what we are doing and hopefully the results will speak for themselves.”