Scott McLaughlin impresses in Swedish touring cars debut

V8 SUPERCARS driver Scott McLaughlin took his slick form to Sweden at the weekend, grabbing an excellent second in his first of two races, after qualifying second first time out in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship opener at the Skövde airport circuit.

Invited to make a cameo for the factory Volvo team where he replaced regular driver and Swedish royal Prince Carl Philip, McLaughlin impressed with his immediate competitiveness against the regulars in an S60 that is quite a departure from his own Australian machine.

He settled in so fast that he set a new lap record, a blistering 0:49.964.

But in the second race – a reverse grid arrangement – the visitor took a big hit from a Saab at the hairpin at the end of the runway, the damage sidelining the S60.

McLaughlin had adventurously fired his way up to third when he was slammed by Reuben Kressner’s out-of-control Saab 9-3.

”I was hit from behind in the second race, nothing I could do about it,” McLaughlin said.

“While that was disappointing, I am pleased with my pace in qualifying and to claim a podium finish. My goal was to break into the top three and that is what I have done.”

The opening race was won by McLaughlin’s former GRM V8 Supercars team-mate Robert Dahlgren.

Fellow Polestar driver Richard Göransson led home Dahlgren in the second race.

McLaughlin now heads back to Australia for this weekend’s Perth Super Sprint at Barbagallo Raceway.