Scott McLaughlin starting the year on the right foot in 2019

Points leader Scott McLaughlin has already racked up five wins in this year’s Supercars Championship, being the first to the flag in all but one race so far.

The defending champion burst out of the block in Adelaide and hardly ever looked like slowing down; the only black mark coming from a mishap before race five which saw he and Tickford’s Cam Waters fail to make the grid due to a collision.

Despite the ‘Did Not Start’ on Saturday afternoon, McLaughlin bounced back on Sunday, converting his front row start alongside Tickford Racing’s Chaz Mostert into a win after taking the lead at Turn 1.

In the post-race press conference, McLaughlin said he was pleased to get wins on Saturday and Sunday despite the black mark of Saturday’s evening race leaving him with no points.

“I guess we had a win yesterday but it was a bit of a half-job Harry,” he said. “Obviously, today was all about the start, getting track position and we had a fast car, as did Chaz (Mostert), and it was qualifying laps there the whole time.

“I was pushing bloody hard, especially after that safety car restart; it was a good battle and I look forward to the rest of the year.

“Those boys (Tickford Racing) have been fast all weekend and I knew that they’d have something for me. I knew it would be important to keep my tyres up to temp and get a good first lap and thankfully we did; I just got that half a second and could keep it there.

“We have strength in different areas and it was good. Certainly, us two (he and Mostert) have had the fastest cars all weekend and it’s nice to have a battle towards the end.”

With five race wins from six races so far in the championship, McLaughlin has notched up over half of the wins he achieved all season last year when he won nine en route to a maiden championship.

“It’s a great start; we focus on speed and coming out strong,” he said. “Over the past couple of years, I haven’t started as strong and I’ve been probably third or fourth in the championship coming out of this round.

“I’m excited for what’s ahead, it’s a great start but we’ve got to try and keep this momentum going. If we can end up beating that record, we’re going to be there or thereabouts come November and that’s the aim ultimately.”