Bathurst champ hits back at controversy as team radio audio is revealed
Bathurst winner Scott McLaughlin isn’t worried about being stripped of his title despite an investigation into his team’s alleged go-slow tactics during an intense race.
Officials are further investigating Supercars driver Fabian Coulthard’s “disgraceful” Bathurst 1000 safety car tactics after charging his ford outfit with breaching team order regulations.
Coulthard was initially hit with a drive-through penalty after he slowed down and held up the field behind his teammate McLaughlin, who went on to win the Bathurst 1000.
However, Coulthard now faces a fine or loss of championship points as officials are investigating whether his actions influenced the outcome of the race after following team orders to slow down.
“I didn’t know anything about it until the press conference after the race,” McLaughlin said to news.com.au.
“We did our bit. We had a fast car, we won the race, so we’ll just get on with it, it’ll sort itself out.
“It certainly wasn’t intentional from our point of view, Fabian was just doing something he needed to do, but I just pushed on.
“We had a great car all day and unfortunately for him (Coulthard) there is a bit of conjecture there, but he drove a great race and I feel bad for him, that’s for sure.”
It was the controversial talking point of the #Bathurst1000 🗣 Hear what was said on the Team Radio in Car #12 and Car #97 pic.twitter.com/QQACup5rcR
— FOX MOTORSPORT (@Fox_Motorsport) 14 October 2019
Critics weren’t happy when a then third placed Coulthard backed up the field as top two Jamie Whincup and McLaughlin fuelled up during the safety car period with 26 of the race’s 161 laps left.
Coulthard’s slow pace under the yellow flag, where drivers are not allowed to overtake, extended the gap between Shane Van Gisbergen and the leading duo from one to 47 seconds.
McLaughlhin went onto beat Van Gisbergen by 0.68 seconds.
Holden legend Mark Skaife told The Daily Telegraph the Ford man had nothing to worry about. “I have no doubt that Scott is the winner,” Skaife said.
“Scott was the fastest all week. He qualified fastest in the wet, broke a record in the shootout and won a last-lap duel with Shane.”
However, Coulthard has vowed to clear his name as he feels like a “scapegoat”. He said to Motorsport.com:
“I’m getting absolutely smashed for something I was told to do.
“I need to clear my name. It’s not my style. I don’t race like that, I’m a clean racer.
“To see what I’m reading, I’m getting pretty shafted for it. I’m the scapegoat.”
Runner-up Van Gisbergen wasn’t happy about being held up by the safety car either.
“We got held up in the safety car by someone, it made it tough (to win),” said the Holden star.
“(But) that car (Coulthard) has been the sacrificial lamb all year (for DJR Team Penske).”