MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Team Penske announced Friday that it will not return to compete in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship next season.

The team’s exit concludes an incredibly successful six-year run in Supercars competition, with lead driver and three-time Supercars titlist Scott McLaughlin moving to join the NTT IndyCar Series full time.

Since joining forces with Dick Johnson Racing to form DJR Team Penske in 2015, the team has earned 56 wins, 62 poles and six championships, including three consecutive driver’s titles with McLaughlin.

Fabian Coulthard produced the team’s first pole in 2016 and its first race win in 2017.

Team Penske will assist team co-owners Dick Johnson and Ryan Story with the transition as they prepare for the 2021 Supercars season. The team is expected to announce its plans for next season, including its driver lineup, in the near future.

“We have enjoyed an incredible six seasons competing in the Supercars series with DJR Team Penske,” said Roger Penske. “Partnering with Dick Johnson and Ryan Story to form DJR Team Penske was an incredible experience that produced success on the track and in the boardroom. We have built so many lasting partnerships and friendships, and competing in Supercars has certainly helped strengthen our brand and our business in Australia and New Zealand.

“Unfortunately, with the challenges we have faced in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to readjust our business initiatives for 2021 and beyond,” Penske added. “We want to thank Dick Johnson, Ryan Story, Fabian Coulthard and all of our team members for their hard work and dedication, as we reestablished a championship organization together over the last six years.

”I know that Dick, Ryan and the team will continue to build on that success moving forward.”

From its debut on, DJR Team Penske quickly became one of the top teams competing in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

With McLaughlin and Coulthard racing their Shell V-Power Fords, DJRTP won the prestigious Supercars team title in 2017, just three years after entering the series. McLaughlin captured his first driver’s championship in 2018, and he established a new single-season record for victories, with 18 wins on his way repeating as champion in 2019.

McLaughlin and co-driver Alex Premat also produced a victory in the legendary Bathurst 1000 endurance race in 2019.

This past season, DJRTP secured its third team title, with 14 combined victories between Coulthard and McLaughlin, who won his third consecutive driver’s championship.

“I want to thank Roger and the entire Penske organization for all they’ve done for our team over the last six years,” said Johnson. “While we hate to see them go, we understand the tough business decisions that have to be made. We’ve worked together over the last six years to build a team that has become the benchmark for performance both on and off the track. With the assistance of Roger and Team Penske we will be in position to build on that success.

“With the full support of Ford Australia, Ford Performance, Shell V-Power and all of our great partners, our team will continue to be a leader in Supercars racing.”

Considered one of the greatest Supercars drivers in series history, McLaughlin departs the series ranked fourth on the all-time wins list, with 56 career victories. He’s also second on the all-time qualifying list, with 76 career poles in just eight full seasons of racing.

“The last four years racing for DJR Team Penske has been amazing,” said McLaughlin. “I want to thank every single person on the team, and everyone that has helped me reach this point in my career. I wouldn’t be in position to continue to chase my dream without the hard work of so many people along the way.”