Defending Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin is in discussion with Australian authorities to grant him an exemption to travel to America for the IndyCar finale at St. Petersburg.
McLaughlin will require permission from the Australian government to leave the country, travel to Florida and return home.
The Kiwi has been linked to a wildcard seat with Penske at the season finale next month which has been scheduled a week after the Bathurst 1000.
With the Great Race also doubling up as the final round of this year’s Supercars championship, McLaughlin will be able to successfully undergo his 14-day mandatory isolation upon return to Australia.
However, it is getting to the United States that is causing the largest problem.
“It’s basically up to the government if I can get out of the country or not,” McLaughlin told Motorsport.com.
“There’s a lot of things to go under the bridge in America as well, in regards to getting a team together and all that sort of stuff. But Tim [Cindric] has said they’re seriously looking at it, and if we can physically do it we will.
“It’s up to me now and I’ve done the steps that I need to get across there. It’s in the process now.
“Honestly, I haven’t done a huge amount of research on it. It’s all happened pretty quickly. We’ll see if we can get out of here first and worry about the rest later.”
The 27-year-old impressed the IndyCar paddock earlier in the year with tests at Sebring International Raceway, Circuit of The Americas, and Texas Motor Speedway.
He was then initially set to make his debut with Penske at the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis in May which acts as the annual curtain-raiser for the Indy 500. However, the race was postponed amid a coronavirus-induced calendar reshuffle and McLaughlin was unable to compete in the event without any clashes with his Supercars schedule.
The Kiwi has frequently suggested he intends to drive full-time in the American open-wheeler series, with the possibility this year might be the last of him in Supercars.
IndyCar has one more round before the finale at St. Petersburg with the Harvest Grand Prix from Indianapolis on October 2-3.
Meanwhile, Supercars returns this weekend with the first leg of a doubleheader from The Bend Motorsport Park.
Wishing you Scotty all the best for your run at indycar well deserved .let’s hope you can leave Aus with another supercars championship and maybe even Bathurst you will be missed but best of luck with it all.