The driver dubbed “the next Craig Lowndes” – Scott McLaughlin – already appears ready to make a name for himself after claiming race two honours at the V8 Supercars’ Ipswich round on Sunday.
The Kiwi young gun racked up the second win of his rookie season, finishing almost a second ahead of defending V8 champion Jamie Whincup while fellow Holden driver James Courtney was third.
It adds another entry to the 20-year-old’s already impressive resume.
He made everyone sit up and take notice when he became the youngest winner of a V8 race this year, claiming line honours still 58 days shy of his 20th birthday at Pukekohe in his native New Zealand.
McLaughlin was also the youngest driver in the second tier V8 category the Dunlop Series when he got behind the wheel at just 16.
Remarkably, McLaughlin last year became the category’s youngest champion at 19.
And McLaughlin may have Whincup’s V8 crown in his sights sooner rather than later judging by his Ipswich form.
After finishing second behind Whincup in Saturday’s opening sprint event, McLaughlin defied challenging conditions at a rain-affected Queensland Raceway to turn the tables in the 100km second race on Sunday.
Pole-sitter Whincup was swamped by McLaughlin at the start and the youngster then held his nerve when the field came at him again following a safety car after nine of the race’s 32 laps.
McLaughlin appeared to warm to comparisons he has already earned with three-time V8 champ Lowndes, who holds the race win record with 92.
“If I get as many wins as Craig I will be happy,” McLaughlin laughed.
“I got a pretty good start today. I was a bit nervous about the wet conditions but once I got out in front I controlled the race.”
Whincup’s nearest series rival – Holden teammate Lowndes – finished 12th in race two on Sunday.
Whincup is now 177 points clear of Lowndes ahead of the Ipswich’s final 100km race which starts at 1620 AEST.
Meanwhile, two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner enjoyed his best Dunlop Series result in a rain affected second race on Sunday.
Stoner moved from 17th to 11th before the race was called off after eight of the scheduled 14 laps.