Motorsport: Young V8 driver takes step into the unknown

Scott McLaughlin

New Zealand youngster Scott McLaughlin had a dream first season in the V8 Supercars Championship last year, winning at Pukekohe and finishing inside the top 10 overall, but with a new and untested car in 2014 he is wary of second-year-syndrome.

Christchurch-born McLaughlin, 20, has traded in his Holden Commodore for a Volvo this season. Volvo is the newest manufacturer to join the series as part of the Car of the Future Programme, whereby cars are made to appear more standardised, like their road-going versions.

"I think we set some pretty high standards by winning a few races [in 2013], but at the end of the day we've gone to a new manufacturer and everyone is aware of what comes with that," said McLaughlin.

"Last year I was able to show what I could do with a pretty good car. This year we're stepping into the unknown so if we do get bad results at least it won't all be thrown on my shoulders, but at the same time I'm positive that we're going to go pretty good.

"You never know - we could come out and blitz them all at the opening round and suddenly we're in the championship hunt, but with this category being as hard and as competitive as it is, that may not happen. We're just stepping into the unknown."

McLaughlin's first taste of victory came just six rounds into his V8 Supercars career at the sole New Zealand event on the calendar. He then went on to finish 10th overall in the series. Despite this immediate success, though, he is keeping his expectations in check.

"I'd love to get top 10 [overall] again but it all depends on how we're going throughout the season," he said. "I think top 10 is an achievable goal, but definitely I'll be disappointed if we're outside the top 15."

McLaughlin's team until at least 2016, Garry Rogers Motorsport, moved away from Holden in the off-season to link up with Volvo, creating a new factory-run operation.

"It was more applicable for the team to get a manufacturer on board in terms of funding and Volvo wanted to be involved. We needed to have that factory backing in place with their extra help and funding so that we could really take our racing seriously. So that's why we made the switch," said the Gold Coast-based Kiwi.

"All I want to do is get out there and win some races and prove to everyone that Volvo can do the business, because that's what Volvo wants to do ... I've done a few test days and it all seems pretty good. The car itself and the chassis feel really good which is very similar to last year. We have had a few teething problems with the new engine but hopefully we'll get on top of them sooner rather than later."

The Christchurch driver is one of three New Zealanders in the V8 Supercars Championship this year, alongside Shane Van Gisbergen and Fabian Coulthard.

All three finished inside the top 10 overall last season and are egging one another on to be even better, while still hoping to be top dog of course.

"It's a bit like a rivalry and a friendship combined," said McLaughlin.

The V8 Supercars first official testing session starts at Sydney Motorsport Park today, before the season kicks off at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on February 27.