In fact the Supercars star feels that having faith in his ability to clock consistently quick laps is an integral part of trying to help his YNA Autosport McLaren team find success.

“You’ve got to go in and believe you’re the fastest and I certainly do that every time I go out on the track, I feel like I’m going to be the fastest driver,” McLaughlin said.

“A lot of good things have got to go your way to win the race, but believing that I’ll put the best foot forward for the team, I’m sure I will.”

McLaughlin’s confidence is not without foundation, his top 10 shootout one-lap flyer in last year’s Bathurst 1000 – a 2:03.8312 – is one that will long be talked about.

That was not the only time he claimed pole position in the Supercars series last year either, going from front spot on grid on 16 occasions.

It is clear he not only enjoys going fast, but is good at it, and he can’t wait to cut a lap at Mount Panorama behind the wheel of a McLaren 650s GT3. Still, McLaughlin also knows there will be times when he has to show caution.

“The thrill of going fast in a race car is definitely what drags you back each year, it’s obviously a risk versus reward type deal. You could easily make a mistake, especially at a race like the Bathurst 12 Hour, so for us in the Opti-Coat McLaren, we want to make sure we balance that risk versus reward and we come away with a decent result,” he said.

“Bathurst is a wonderful place and it creates memories. For me it was very special last year in the Supercar, but hopefully I go even faster in the aero car.

“Being a New Zealander, Bruce McLaren, the guy that started McLaren, he’s a Kiwi, so it’s ideal for me to be in a McLaren my first time in it and heading to an historic track like Bathurst, so it’s a pretty proud moment.”

Though Friday will mark the first time McLaughlin has lapped Mount Panorama in a GT3, it is not his first tilt in the Bathurst 12 Hour.

“I did the 12 Hour in 2016 with Grove in the Class B Porsche and it was a great way to knock the cobwebs off, but I was in Class B. So this year being Class A it’s my first attack at a GT car, an aero car, it's pretty special,” McLaughlin told Supercars.com

“So it's very different to a Supercar as such, but it’s the same principles - endurance racing, long stints in the car, I guess it's the perfect way just to get the season underway.

“That's why you see a lot of Supercars drivers, not only me, [Craig] Lowndes, Shane [van Gisbergen] is in there as well, it's a pretty cool thing, I think they've got a great event and I’m just glad to be a part of such a world-wide recognised event.”

He will share the McLaren with Fraser Ross, Andrew Watson and Alexander West.