Career Timeline of Scott McLaughlin: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Scott McLaughlin made an impact.

Scott McLaughlin is a New Zealand racing driver currently competing in the IndyCar Series for Team Penske. He is well known for his successful career in the Supercars Championship, where he secured three championship titles in 2018, 2019, and 2020. He drives the No. 3 Dallara-Chevrolet in IndyCar.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1999: Start of Kart Racing Career

In 1999, Scott McLaughlin began his racing career in karts at the Kartsport Hamilton circuit outside of Hamilton, New Zealand.

2002: First Karting Title Win

In 2002, Scott McLaughlin won his first title in kart racing.

2008: Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals

In 2008, Scott McLaughlin represented New Zealand in the Junior class at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, finishing 19th after an incident on the first lap.

2008: Britek Motorsport Scholarship

In 2008, Scott McLaughlin was part of the Britek Motorsport scholarship, working closely with Jason Bright and attending the Bathurst 1000.

December 2009: First V8 Supercar Test

On 17 December 2009, Scott McLaughlin had his first test in a V8 Supercar with Stone Brothers Racing at Queensland Raceway, recording over 70 laps in a Ford BF Falcon.

2010: Four-Year Apprenticeship with Stone Brothers Racing

In 2010, Scott McLaughlin began a four-year apprenticeship with Stone Brothers Racing after impressing during a test in December 2009.

2010: Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series Debut

In 2010, Scott McLaughlin debuted in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series with SBR, becoming the youngest ever driver to race a V8 Supercar. He faced challenges including not having the required competition license initially and a severe crash at Mount Panorama.

2011: First Podium and Race Victory in Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series

In 2011, Scott McLaughlin scored his first podium in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at Adelaide and secured his first race victory at Queensland Raceway. He finished fourth in the championship.

2012: V8 SuperTourer Series Championship

In 2012, Scott McLaughlin drove a Holden VE Commodore in the V8 SuperTourer Series, winning six races to become the inaugural series champion for MPC Motorsport.

2012: Supercars Championship Debut at Sandown 500

In 2012, Scott McLaughlin made his Supercars Championship debut at the Sandown 500 as a co-driver to Jonathon Webb at Tekno Autosports, finishing tenth.

2012: Dunlop Series Championship Win

In 2012, Scott McLaughlin won the Dunlop Series Championship after a close title fight, prevailing over Chaz Mostert, Scott Pye, and Nick Percat. He secured the title with a 73-point margin over Pye.

2012: Dunlop V8 Supercar Series Win and Supercars Championship Debut

In 2012, Scott McLaughlin won the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series. He also made his Supercars Championship debut at the Dick Smith Sandown 500 as a co-driver to Jonathon Webb at Tekno Autosports.

2013: Signed as Full-Time Driver for Garry Rogers Motorsport

In 2013, Scott McLaughlin was signed by Garry Rogers Motorsport as a full-time driver for the Supercars Championship season.

2013: First Supercars Championship Race Victory

In 2013, Scott McLaughlin, competing full-time for Garry Rogers Motorsport, achieved his first race victory in the Supercars Championship, becoming the youngest driver to win a race in the series.

March 2014: Podium Finish in Volvo's Return

On 1 March 2014, Scott McLaughlin scored a podium finish in Volvo's return to the series at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

July 2016: Announcement of Joining DJR Team Penske

In July 2016, it was announced that Scott McLaughlin would join DJR Team Penske for the 2017 Supercars Championship season.

2016: Third Place Championship Finish

In 2016, Scott McLaughlin achieved his best championship placing of third while still with Garry Rogers Motorsport.

2017: Runner-Up in Supercars Championship

In 2017, Scott McLaughlin finished as runner-up in the Supercars Championship, narrowly missing the title to Jamie Whincup.

2017: Move to DJR Team Penske and Championship Runner-Up

In 2017, Scott McLaughlin moved to DJR Team Penske and finished as runner-up in the championship after a chaotic final race, narrowly missing the title to Jamie Whincup.

2018: 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars Champion

In 2018, Scott McLaughlin became the 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars champion, winning seven races and claiming the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy at Pukekohe Park Raceway.

2018: Supercars Championship Win

In 2018, Scott McLaughlin won the Supercars Championship drivers' title.

October 2019: Bathurst 1000 Win and Major Crash

In October 2019, Scott McLaughlin won the Bathurst 1000 for the first time with Alexandre Prémat. Two weeks later, he experienced a 43g impact crash at the Gold Coast.

2019: Second Supercars Championship Win

In 2019, Scott McLaughlin dominantly won his second Supercars Championship, setting a record of 18 race wins, including the Bathurst 1000.

2019: Speculation and Discussions about Moving to Penske's Other Motorsports Programs

In 2019, speculation began about Scott McLaughlin potentially moving to one of Penske's other motorsport programs. He expressed interest in the IndyCar Series, motivating the change by undertaking private simulator time that to show he had the talent and physical fitness to move from the mechanical grip reliant Supercars to the downforce reliant Dallara DW12

January 2020: Team Penske IndyCar Test

In January 2020, Scott McLaughlin tested a Team Penske IndyCar at Sebring International Raceway, and Will Power hailed McLaughlin as a phenomenal driver after the test.

February 2020: First Laps on an Oval

In February 2020, Scott McLaughlin completed his first laps on an oval during Team Penske's test at Texas Motor Speedway, with Josef Newgarden praising McLaughlin's ability to adapt to racing the DW12 on ovals.

2020: Announcement of Joining IndyCar Series

During 2020, it was announced that Scott McLaughlin would join the IndyCar Series with Team Penske in 2021.

2020: Third Supercars Championship Win

In 2020, Scott McLaughlin achieved his third consecutive Supercars Championship drivers' title.

2020: Third Consecutive Supercars Championship

In 2020, Scott McLaughlin won his third consecutive Supercars Championship, also marking the final championship for DJR Team Penske. He achieved thirteen wins during the season.

January 25, 2021: PPG Paints Announced as Primary Sponsor

On January 25, 2021, Scott McLaughlin and Penske announced that PPG Paints would be the primary sponsor for most of his entries in the Indycar series in his rookie year, while DEX Imaging and Car Shop would sponsor him for select events.

2021: IndyCar Series Debut

In 2021, Scott McLaughlin made his IndyCar Series debut with Team Penske at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

2021: Learning the Aspects of IndyCar Racing

In 2021, Scott McLaughlin spent the year learning the different aspects of IndyCar racing, including managing temperature-sensitive tires and carbon-ceramic brakes, significantly different from Supercars Championship.

2021: Rookie Season Comparisons

In 2021, Scott McLaughlin's rookie season was marked by comparisons to fellow IndyCar rookies Jimmie Johnson and Romain Grosjean, with discussions focusing on who would have the strongest season.

2022: Championship Contender

In 2022, Scott McLaughlin became a championship contender in IndyCar, securing his first IndyCar win at St. Petersburg and finishing fourth in the championship standings.

2023: Barber Win and Penske's Top Driver

In 2023, Scott McLaughlin won at Barber and finished as the highest-scoring driver for Team Penske, securing third place in the standings.

2024: ECU Software Manipulation and First Oval Win

In 2024, Scott McLaughlin had his third-place finish at St. Petersburg stripped due to Team Penske's illegal ECU software manipulation, but he later achieved his first oval win at Iowa.