New Percat engineer WAU's 'greatest little secret'

Adam Austin’s promotion to race engineer for Nick Percat has been a long time coming, says Walkinshaw Andretti United.

Austin debuted as Percat’s No. 1 man at the recent Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

It comes after decorated engineer Grant McPherson shifted to Penrite Racing.

McPherson, who was WAU’s Head of Performance, is the Grove squad’s new Technical Director.

The Bathurst- and championship-winning engineer was released by WAU early to join Penrite Racing.

That has allowed for Austin, previously a data engineer, to make the leap alongside Percat.

Their first weekend together featured highs and lows, headlined by the Race 32 chicane crash.

Percat had little chance to avoid the crash, and the #2 Mobil 1 NTI Commodore was out on the spot.

Regardless, WAU Team Principal Bruce Stewart liked what he saw in the new Percat/Austin combination, which will carry on into 2023.

“Adam’s been the greatest little secret in our team,” Stewart said.

“We’ve known he was going to be a great race engineer for a long time; a long time.

“As one person takes an opportunity with Shippy, we had an opportunity to progress Adam.

“He stepped into the role very well with Nick at the Gold Coast.”

The departure of Geoffrey Slater mid-season saw McPherson shift to Percat’s car.

Percat has yet to score a podium this season

Austin is now the third engineer for Percat, who has yet to score a podium in WAU colours.

The season-ending VALO Adelaide 500 is Percat’s last chance to score 2022 silverware.

Percat is a proud South Australian, and won the 2016 Adelaide 500.

Stewart kept a watching brief over Percat and Austin at Surfers Paradise, and believes the new pairing will pay dividends for his star driver.

“From a long way out, we’ve had Adam sitting near Nick in the truck, and working with Nick and a lot of his data,” Stewart said.

“They’ve had the ability to build up their relationship through the last few weeks and months of Shippy’s time with us.

“Their communication was straightaway on point in regard to understanding each other.

“I can only see really good things blossoming in this relationship.”

Percat is 16th in the points heading to the season-ending VALO Adelaide 500.

WAU teammate Chaz Mostert, who is engineered by Adam De Borre, is third overall.