McLaughlin Savoring “Bucket List” Suzuka Experience

Scott McLaughlin says he’s enjoying every moment of his first experience at Suzuka as he prepares to tackle the “bucket list” track for the first time in this weekend’s Intercontinental GT Challenge round in a Johor Motorsports Racing Corvette.

NTT IndyCar Series star McLaughlin is partnering factory Corvette racers Alexander Sims and Nicky Catsburg for the Suzuka 1000km at the wheel of the No. 2 JMR Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, in what is his maiden outing at the Japanese circuit.

It will mark the New Zealander’s second outing in a Corvette this year after he appeared for Trackhouse by TF Sport in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, an opportunity that led to the chance to tackle this weekend’s returning IGTC fixture.

McLaughlin will get his first chance to turn laps at Suzuka in Friday morning’s opening practice session, but shared his initial impressions of the historic figure-of-eight venue after taking part in a track walk on Thursday.

“I did Daytona with Shane [van Gisbergen] in the Corvette, and GM, Jess Dane and Eric Warren, they know want I be part of something moving forward – that if I could get myself in a race car, I just want to drive the car,” McLaughlin told Sportscar365.

“For me, Suzuka is a bucket list [track]. I had it circled on my calendar to maybe do it. Jess came to me earlier in the year and told me this is happening, it will be a Pro car, and I was immediately excited about it. I signed the deal and here we are.

“I know the track like the back of my hand even though I’ve never been here! I’ve driven it a lot on the simulator and to walk around it today… it was awesome just to soak it all in.

“You just realize how famous this track is and all the stuff that has gone on here through the years, like Senna/Prost, it’s kind of crazy. I was also blown away by how tight it is, in some places it looks like a go-kart track. Even for Formula 1, it must be tight.

“[It’s] just cool to be here, also walking through the amusement park, staying next door to the track. It’s also my first time in Japan and the people here are so nice.”

Although he hasn’t driven the Corvette since racing at Daytona, McLaughlin revealed he has turned laps in the simulator, saying he has no concerns about getting back up to speed in GT3 machinery following the conclusion of his IndyCar Series season.

He added that JMR’s strong form in GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS, where it is vying for the title in its first season since switching to Corvette machinery, and the quality of his co-drivers gives him confidence to aim for a top result.

“I have to thank Corvette for giving me the chance to come here and to race with two amazing dudes, two Platinum guys, and hopefully we have a shot,” he said.

“The team itself, I know a lot of the guys from Supercars, it’s very professionally run. Prince Jefri [Ibrahim] has done an amazing job with how he put the team together. It reminds me a lot of the team they used to have back in Australia. It’s really cool.

“We’re here to win. GM wants that, Nicky and Alex as well. I’ve no doubt that the people in this team can get this car moving. I’m very excited.

“The biggest thing tomorrow is to get used to the systems again, and it will also be the first time for me with the full-course yellow. But it shouldn’t be too hard.”