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Last on the grid to podium fight: Percat's stunning charge

08 May 2021
The Brad Jones Racing driver started from 26th and last
2 mins by James Pavey
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Saturday’s Race 9 at The Bend Motorsport Park marked another key turnaround for Nick Percat, who climbed 22 places in Race 9 at the OTR SuperSprint.

The Brad Jones Racing driver started from 26th and last on the grid after another dismal qualifying performance by the team.

However, a smart strategy play by the team, with Percat going long in the changeable conditions, saw the 2011 Bathurst winner emerge from his late stop in the thick of a podium battle.

Anton De Pasquale managed to clear Percat, but Cameron Waters was unable to fight past as the #8 R&J Batteries entry’s tyres came up to speed.

WATCH: RACE 9 HIGHLIGHTS

Tight racing in slippery, changeable conditions: Race 9 highlights OTR SuperSprint

However, a final lap mistake cost him a potential shot at a podium, with Waters driving through into fourth.

“Really it was the one that got away,” Percat said.

“My radio wasn’t great so I couldn’t understand AE [Andrew Edwards, race engineer] was saying, so I think we pitted a bit after, so we didn’t optimise that part.”

One-lap pace has eluded the team for the past two rounds, but their race pace continues to impress.

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BJR played Percat into the race, keeping him out longer to assume the lead of the race, when most made a beeline to the lane.

While he missed out on the podium, Percat was delighted with the turnaround from qualifying.

“The boys did a mega job, the car on slicks is obviously super-fast,” Percat said.

“It was great just to repay everyone, we’ve come off a dead-ringer in 26th to nearly a podium.

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Weather continues to catch out the hard chargers

“I drove up the road on the last lap and we lost a spot to Waters, but we just need to qualify a bit further up.”

Percat sits ninth in the championship, 17 points behind Race 9 winner Andre Heimgartner.

The Repco Supercars Championship field will return on Sunday for Race 10 qualifying at 9:40am AEST, ahead of Race 10 at 1:00pm, before the weekend ends with Race 11 at 4:10pm. Check out the full weekend schedule here.

The OTR SuperSprint will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo with highlights on 7 and 7 Plus.

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