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Percat: I wasn't blaming Whincup!

21 Jun 2015
LDM driver clarifies comments after crash and explains he wasn't calling Jamie a "tool" for incident that damaged his car.
3 mins by James Pavey
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Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport's Nick Percat has clarified his comments aired on yesterday's broadcast after an incident that saw his Repair Management Australia Racing Commodore unable to finish the second race at Hidden Valley.

Percat had improved from 20th to ninth in the first 21-lap race, only to be caught in a concertina on lap one of the second after a clash between rookie Andre Heimgartner and former Championship runner-up Will Davison.

Davison seemed to be up the inside of Heimgartner's Falcon and a little tap spun the FG X, with Whincup and Percat sitting ducks behind.

Contact from Lee Holdsworth crumpled the LDM Commodore and Percat was straight into the pits. He spoke openly to the cameras, still angry from the misfortune of getting caught up in someone else's accident.

"It's absolute sh*t for this team," he said on the telecast.

"To race against someone like Jamie Whincup, Will Davison and a poor move like that on Heimgartner is a joke ... I just want to go punch them for the damage they've done to my car.

"I was having a good weekend, we're a small team punching above our weight, beating Triple Eight and their millions of dollars in their old cars and he drives like a tool, he was like that in race one. I'm over it."

Percat told v8supercars.com.au he felt Davison deserved the blame and was referencing Whincup's inconsistent driving in race one.

"To everyone who thinks I was blaming Jamie - that was a bit of rage. I was blaming Will and just referring to the way Jamie drove all day, a bit erratic and loose.

"He's obviously desperate to get through, probably a bit impatient in race one a few times and I was just frustrated in that because I got caught up in a few of his issues in race one...

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"Andre made a little mistake I think, but didn't really deserve to be turned around for it. Will just spun him round and I had Lee just shovel me through really, so annoying."

Percat just mixed his words a little in the interview, still mad and trying to help his small team assess and repair the car. LDM has dealt with significant damage already this year after Percat was involved in a major accident at the Australian Grand Prix.

"I knew what I was going to say, and there was always going to be reference towards Will, but I just changed topics a bit quick for everyone!

"Obviously I was just angry and trying to help take the car apart because it's a small team - there's only two mechanics on my car and myself and my engineer are trying to take it apart so we can get new stuff on it.

"So it's just frustrating and probably I just needed to pause for a second, add an 'and' in there and refer to race one and we would've been sweet."

Heimgartner and Davison had an exchange on Instagram post race, with the rookie calling the matter a racing incident.

"Got taken out in the first race then in the second got caught up in a racing incident, just one of those days. Cheers Will Davison for the good sportsmanship, Hopefully can have a better day tomorrow!" the Super Black racer wrote.

The Erebus driver, who recently won in Perth, responded: "Great attitude mate, was seriously crazy out there today. Was bloody tight there and very sorry to see you go around. Have a good day tomorrow."

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