Percat Released From TDR Drive

Tony D’Alberto Racing has released Nick Percat from his endurance drive with the team, at the request of Walkinshaw Racing.

In March this year, Percat was signed to drive alongside Tony D’Alberto in the #3 Team HIFLEX Commodore VF at the Sandown 500, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600.

Percat, who currently operates under an existing Walkinshaw Racing driver contract, has been requested to change his endurance plans and will drive for the Holden Racing Team in the endurance races.

While TDR was looking forward to having Percat suit up alongside D’Alberto, TDR is a loyal customer of the Walkinshaw Racing team and felt it was the right decision to let Percat fulfill his driving duties with the factory team.

“I’m really looking forward to the endurances races and this news isn’t deterring me from the job that our team has at hand this year,” Tony D'Alberto said. 

“Besides the obvious height difference between us, Nick was a great fit for us and he would have been a great co-driver, but we understand Walkinshaw Racing’s need for the switch, so we are now focusing on securing a new driver that can help us achieve the results that we want.

“I wish Nick the best, and I’m confident that we’ll be just as competitive without him on our side of the garage.

“Our results have been very encouraging over the past few events. The Team HIFLEX crew have been working extremely hard behind the scenes and we are hoping to continue our improvement throughout the remainder of the year, and I think the signs are showing that we are well and truly on the right track for that.”

Team owner Al D'Alberto echoed Tony's sentiment.

“We were pleased to have Nick signed early in the year. It allowed us to get on with the business of getting up to speed with our new relationship with Walkinshaw Racing in the all-new Commodore VF,” Al said. 

“Nick has the runs on the board. He won Bathurst with Garth Tander in 2011 and he would have been a great addition to our squad.

“Having said that, we wish Nick and Walkinshaw Racing the best for the races and we are confident that we’ll have an excellent driver to partner Tony at Sandown, Bathurst and the Gold Coast.”

TDR is now on the hunt for a replacement for Percat and expects to make an announcement in the coming weeks.