Touring car legend Jim Richards rates Kiwi youngster Scott McLaughlin a big chance to give Volvo victory over the Holdens and Fords in the Bathurst 1000 on Sunday.
Richards knows what it takes to rile the Holden and Ford faithful at Mount Panorama.
He did it in 1992, describing them as a “pack of arseholes” for booing when he won a second straight Bathurst crown with Mark Skaife in a Nissan.
He did it again in 1998, albeit more cordially behind the wheel of a Volvo for the Swedish manufacturer’s first victory in the race.
In fact, Richards has been responsible for half of the six winners not built by Holden or Ford in 53 editions of the Great Race.
And he reckons there could be another this year from tyro McLaughlin and his co-driver, Frenchman Alexandre Premat.
The Kiwi youngster has had a breakout season with Volvo Racing GRM, steering his S60 to two wins and four other podiums in the car’s debut V8 Supercars season.
“I think they’re in with a really good shot,” said Richards, who conquered the Mountain seven times from a record 35 starts.
“Their car has been competitive all year, the Garry Rogers team is fantastic, and they’ve got great guys involved.
“They look great on paper to me.”
While Volvo is down in the record books as having won the 1000km endurance classic, it’s yet to do so with an eight cylinder engine.
Richards and Rick Rydell’s victory in 1998 was part of a breakaway two-litre series, which that year and the year prior ran a separate race at Bathurst to V8 Supercars.
Ironically, it was Richards’ son Steven who won the alternative race with Jason Bright in a Ford Falcon.
The Bathurst 1000 returned to a two-marque battle after that, with Holden and Ford the only contenders until Nissan and Mercedes-Benz joined the field last year.
Neither made a real mark, though, with Lee Holdsworth and Craig Bird the highest-placed in 12th in an E63.
But McLaughlin is confident Volvo can better that result come October 12.
“Like Jim said, I think we’ve got a really good shot,” the 21-year-old added.
“I’m looking forward to hopefully going for that win and being there at the end.
“But at the end of the day, we’ve got to get everything right.”
Fuel management will be key, with the Volvo known to guzzle at a faster rate than most.
But what if the pacey blue beast does go the distance? Does he expect to be booed like Nissan champions Richards and Skaife did in 1992?
“I don’t think so,” said McLaughlin, whose popularity soared after his thrilling duel with defending champion Jamie Whincup on the last lap of the season-opening Clipsal 500 and colourful post-race interview.
“We’ve been surprised by the reaction of all the fans.
“Everyone’s been pretty welcoming of us coming into the sport.
“It’s like an underdog sort of tag, and everyone likes that sort of stuff.”
His no-nonsense team boss Garry Rogers agrees.
“I think the public have warmed to our cars,” Rogers said.
“We’ve had some good results and we’ve had nothing other than positivity from the media and from the public.
“So I don’t think there’s any issue.
“We’ve got a V8 car, the same as everyone else. We’ve got a rule book the same as every one else – we’ve only just read it a bit better than most.”
WINNING BATHURST MANUFACTURERS
Holden – 29
Ford – 18
Nissan – 2 (1991, 1992)
Jaguar – 1 (1985)
Morris – 1 (1966)
BMW – 1 (1997)
Volvo – 1 (1998)
