Supercars: Scott McLaughlin dedicates Albert Park victory to Christchurch following massacre

Contributor
James Pavey
Supercars: Scott McLaughlin dedicates Albert Park victory to Christchurch following massacre image

Scott McLaughlin has carried on his running tribute to his hurting nation, with the Christchurch native winning the first two races of the weekend in Melbourne.

49 lives were lost in a mass shooting at mosques in Christchurch on Friday, with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern marking it as "one of New Zealand’s darkest days".

In the wake of the devastation, sporting codes have taken action - notably, a Test match in the city between New Zealand and Bangladesh has been cancelled,  as has a Super Rugby match in Dunedin.

An emotional McLaughlin dedicated his Friday victory in the opening leg of the Melbourne 400 to his home town, before backing it up in the Saturday morning sprint race - which was also the 1000th ATCC/VASC race.

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The 25-year-old was clearly emotional as the New Zealand national anthem played out after both wins in Melbourne.

"Me and [teammate Fabian Coulthard] are Kiwis, I'm from Christchurch originally," McLaughlin said after Friday's race.

"I found out about the whole thing after quali, it was a bit of a shock to the system.

"Even hearing the New Zealand anthem tonight was pretty special and gave me goosebumps.

"I send big love to them over there. It's a small town, it's hard to believe something so bad could happen there, but they'll work through it."


In response to the tragedy, the Supercars family will carry messages of support to Christchurch for the rest of the weekend in Melbourne.

Scott McLaughlin

2018 series champion McLaughlin is one of five Kiwis in the field - along with Coulthard, Shane van Gisbergen, Andre Heimgartner and Richie Stanaway - and silver fern stickers were applied to cars and helmets up and down pit lane.


McLaughlin's and Coulthard's Shell V-Power Racing Ford Mustangs are carrying black mirrors with the silver fern on them, just one of many simple - yet emotional - tributes to the fallen.

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer is also a New Zealand native, and hoped the racing could help provide some "respite" and a "distraction" to his countrypeople involved in the sport.

"To our friends, family and fans in Christchurch and New Zealand, the Supercars family is deeply saddened by yesterday’s horrific events in Christchurch,” Seamer said.

"Many New Zealanders take part in and contribute to our sport, and in many ways it feels inappropriate to be here in Melbourne doing something we enjoy while there is so much pain in Christchurch.

"We can only hope, humbly, the Supercars activity this weekend can provide some brief respite and a distraction from what is otherwise a very sombre time for our New Zealand brethren.

"Our heartfelt condolences are with all of those affected."

SUPERCARS: MELBOURNE 400

RACE 3 RESULTS

Position Driver Car Margin
1stScott McLaughlinFord 
2ndFabian CoulthardFord+0.687
3rdCameron WatersFord+4.612
4thWill DavisonFord+9.917
5thChaz MostertFord+11.558
6thTim SladeHolden+15.820
7thJames CourtneyHolden+21.760
8thJamie WhincupHolden+22.021
9thLee HoldsworthFord+22.450
10thDavid ReynoldsHolden+23.188
11thAnton De PasqualeHolden+23.796
12thMark WinterbottomHolden+27.770
13thScott PyeHolden+29.407
14thNick PercatHolden+37.003
15thAndre HeimgartnerNissan+37.759
16thJames GoldingHolden+38.020
17thRichie StanawayHolden+38.964
18thSimona De SilvestroNissan+40.628
19thMacauley JonesHolden+40.886
20thJack Le BrocqHolden+56.277
21stGarry JacobsonNissan+56.797
22ndRick KellyNissan+1:10.378
23rdTodd HazelwoodHolden+2 LAPS
DNFShane van GisbergenHolden 

SUPERCARS: MELBOURNE 400

RACE 4 RESULTS

Position Driver Car Margin
1stScott McLaughlinFord 
2ndChaz MostertFord+2.522
3rdCameron WatersFord+6.410
4thJamie WhincupHolden+7.312
5thFabian CoulthardFord+10.821
6thWill DavisonFord+11.390
7thDavid ReynoldsHolden+13.168
8thTim SladeHolden+13.869
9thJames CourtneyHolden+17.210
10thShane van GisbergenHolden+17.406
11thMark WinterbottomHolden+18.585
12thLee HoldsworthFord+21.558
13thAnton De PasqualeHolden+23.542
14thScott PyeHolden+24.097
15thNick PercatHolden+24.719
16thRick KellyNissan+25.676
17thTodd HazelwoodHolden+28.846
18thAndre HeimgartnerNissan+29.711
19thRichie StanawayHolden+35.239
20thSimona De SilvestroNissan+35.677
21stJames GoldingHolden+36.608
22ndJack Le BrocqHolden+37.513
23rdMacauley JonesHolden+41.045
24thGarry JacobsonNissan+43.107

SUPERCARS: CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

AFTER RACE 4

Position Driver Car Points/Margin
1stScott McLaughlinFord450
2ndJamie WhincupHolden-116
3rdWill DavisonFord-126
4thCameron WatersFord-144
5thChaz MostertFord-159