Scott McLaughlin produced an impressive display in qualifying on his debut appearance in the opening round of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship in Sweden.
The Volvo V8 Supercars star was immediately on the pace behind the wheel of the STCC specification S60 having been called up by the Polestar Cyan Racing squad to deputise for the absent Prince Carl Philip.
The 22-year-old ended opening qualifying at the Skövde Airport track just 0.181s behind polesitter and former Garry Rogers Motorsport team-mate Robert Dahlgren.
McLaughlin admitted he made a mistake in Q2 which saw him settle for fourth just 0.3s adrift of Dahlgren, with Richard Göransson (Volvo) second and Mattias Andersson’s Dacia in third.
The results from the Q2 session set the grid for Sunday’s opening race.
Meanwhile, the starting order for Race 2 is determined by reversing the Q1 results, meaning McLaughlin will start from ninth alongside fellow Polestar driver Dahlgren.
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”My goal was to get into the top three and I’ve done that,” said McLaughlin.
“I stuffed up my super pole lap in Q2, but overall it’s just great to get more laps in the car and I’m longing to get going in the races tomorrow, that’s why we’re here.”
McLaughlin heads into Sunday’s 20 minute races lying second in the championship having scored 18 points for his performance in Q1.
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