McLaughlin returns to circuit in brand new Mustang

Scott McLaughlin

The Shell V-Power Racing Team has completed a marathon build of a brand-new Ford Mustang GT Supercar in only a week, following Scott McLaughlin's massive 42.7G crash at the Gold Coast 600 eight days ago.

The new car, dubbed Chassis 007, has run for the first time at Queensland Raceway this afternoon in a Supercars mandated 60km 'shakedown'. This outing also marked the first time McLaughlin has returned to the race track since the crash that saw him taken to hospital for neurological testing.

McLaughlin was cleared of any injury, and praised the work of his team in building him a brand new car in such a small amount of time.

"I say all the time that I have the best crew in Supercars, and they have demonstrated it again with the incredible effort they have put in over the last week," said McLaughlin.

"To turn a completely bare chassis into a running Supercar in less than seven days is truly incredible, and a testament to the skill and dedication of this crew.

"The car ran beautifully this afternoon, we got through all the systems checks and shakedown testing that we need to manage today so we know that the brand new Car 17 is going to be good to go for Sandown.

"It might be Chassis 007, but we're going to make sure that this one isn't shaken or stirred!"

McLaughlin also reflected on getting back behind the wheel following the biggest crash of his career.

"I was pretty sore and sorry for myself and the team last week, but today I'm good as gold and it was fantastic to get back behind the wheel," said McLaughlin.

"This is what I do for a living, I love it and I don't want to do anything else. I have a Championship to win, we have a Teams' Championship to win and that is now the focus for the team, and for Fabian [Coulthard], Tony [D'Alberto], Alex [Premat] and I across the Sandown and Newcastle weekends. Bring it on."