The three-time Supercars champion hasn't been seen back in the series since he departed for IndyCar at the end of 2020.
That's despite efforts from his old team Dick Johnson Racing to secure him as a co-driver for the Bathurst 1000 in both 2021 and 2022.
Scheduling has effectively been blamed for McLaughlin's decision to not compete at Bathurst, the Kiwi preferring to focus on his US commitments rather than attempt to dovetail them with a Bathurst campaign.
That is even more of an issue moving forward given the Supercars enduro season has grown to two races with the reinstatement of the Sandown 500.
While it was always thought that a McLaughlin return to Bathurst would come with DJR, that too is a complicated scenario.
That's because of McLaughlin's alignment with Chevrolet through the Penske IndyCar programme, which could take appearing in a factory Ford off the table.
The flip side, however, is that it does open the door for McLaughlin to make a sensational Great Race start in a Triple Eight Camaro alongside fierce rival Shane van Gisbergen at some point in the future.
Source: Autosport