SUPERCARS champion Scott McLaughlin has set foot in motorsport team ownership, revealed as one of the household names behind a new sprintcar squad.
Hodges Motorsport yesterday trumpeted the signing of James McFadden to contest the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic next January in Warrnambool.
What was not immediately clear was the high-profile ownership group behind the NAPA Auto Parts-backed outfit led by media personality Tim Hodges.
Among them is McLaughlin, who is now an out-and-out IndyCar Series star in the United States.
McLaughlin is currently back in Australia; he attended the recent Gold Coast 500 and will join the Supercars broadcast team for the Adelaide 500 on December 1-4.
Fellow co-owners of Hodges Motorsport include AFL premiership winner Jack Riewoldt and well-known sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley.
A two-time winner of the Classic, McFadden voiced his excitement at the opportunity – which includes having American Brad Sweet as his teammate, albeit running under the Landrigan Motorsport banner.
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“I love the opportunity Tim Hodges offered with this unique deal,” he said.
“He’s a local boy and he knows how much the Classic means to this town, and like me this race means a hell of a lot to him and his crew – so I hope we can do something really special in its 50th anniversary running.
“I’d love nothing more than to win a third Classic crown in a year where it means so much.”
The 50th anniversary edition kicks off on January 27.
