DJR Team Penske team-mates Fabian Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin insist there is no sign of friction growing in their relationship despite being locked in a Supercars title battle.
The Shell Ford duo are now sitting first and second in the championship standings after scoring a win apiece at the CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown.
Coulthard has three race victories to McLaughlin’s four although the former holds a 10 point lead in the championship.
Following DJRTP’s emergence as the team to beat this season, the pair appear set for a season-long title battle, alongside Triple Eight drivers Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen.
DJRTP has maintained a mentality of putting the team first, ensuring its team-mates work together to push the squad forward, which has been visible this year.
This is a view shared by both Coulthard and McLaughlin, who admit it is too early to start thinking about title bids.
“Not at all, when the team wins, we win,” said Coulthard, when asked by Speedcafe.com if the championship battle would put a strain on his relationship with McLaughlin.
“We get on well and we have worked together to move this team forward this year, along with all the guys in the team.
“It is all heading in the right direction and hopefully come November we will be in a similar position.”
The sentiment is echoed by McLaughlin who has labelled the current team-mate dynamic with Coulthard as the best he has experienced in Supercars.
“We’re working together. I feel like me and Fabs are working together the best I’ve ever had with a team-mate,” said McLaughlin.
“I’m really enjoying the battle that we’re having, I think everyone in the team’s really liking it too. The #12 and #17 boys are having a bit of a competition.
“It’s a really cool dynamic in the team. We can race hard out there and no contact, and so far I feel like there’s been no issues at all, no matter what.”
DJRTP managing director Ryan Story says his drivers fully understand the Penske mantra of working together to ensure success.
Harbouring two drivers hungry for a maiden Supercars title, he believes the team won’t be required to intervene during their championship battle.
“You see this throughout all of Team Penske racing organisations, these guys work together,” Story told Speedcafe.com.
“They race against each other and on days when that happens it is always fair.
“The team is paramount and always comes first and these guys understand that.
“That is the culture and mentality that is driven from the very top of the organisation and from Roger (Penske) himself.
“Competition is healthy and fantastic but the team is always the priority.
“It (team orders) is not even a speck on my radar.
“It is all well and good to consider those things but we take each and every race as it comes and each situation on its merits.”
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