Motorsport: Young Kiwi V8s racer fired up for Pukekohe

Scott McLaughlin looks as if he's on the rise again after a rocky run this year. Photo / Edge Photographics

Young New Zealand V8 Supercars racer Scott McLaughlin roared on to the scene with such pizzazz last year he rattled more than a few of the more established racecar cages.

Not since the days of Robbie Francevic in 1986 (when he won the Australian Touring Car Championship) had anyone punted a Volvo around a racetrack in fear of nothing and no one.

McLaughlin stepped up from the development series that year as if he was made to race against the big boys. Wins and podiums came and most observers of the sport were looking forward to the young Kiwi pushing on in 2015. It wasn't to be. The Volvo struggled and the rest of the field had made big strides in aero and pace - but McLaughlin's fortunes might be turning.

He's showed some of the speed and car balance of old and was up with front-runners at Bathurst and on the Gold Coast. McLaughlin is keen to get back to New Zealand, and Pukekohe specifically, where he had a great weekend in 2014.

"The Gold Coast race is a little bit like a home event for me because Mum and Dad live there, but Puke is whole different level," McLaughlin said.

"I always look forward to going and racing there [Pukekohe]. I'm really excited. It's been nearly a year-and-a-half since we last raced there."

The New Zealand round of the V8 Supercars championship was traditionally held in November before the event moved to Hamilton, where it had an April date. Last year it was again in April but organisers decided to return it to November from 2015.

"It's going to be crazy because it's the only Supercars event in the country," McLaughlin said. "They love it and they'll be flocking to it.

"Growing up around Puke I know the track pretty well and we've got the car working well now. After I turn a lap or two in practice on Friday I reckon I'll be pretty much on the pace."