hero-img

Percat’s 'very tough conversation' with BJR colleagues

15 Sep 2021
Nick Percat explains the zoom call to his team ahead of his shock departure
2 mins by James Pavey
Advertisement

Nick Percat says telling his Brad Jones Racing colleagues he was leaving the team was "a very, very tough conversation".

The 2011 Bathurst 1000 winner announced on Monday he would be departing the Albury-based team at the end of the 2021 season.

The announcement came just two months after BJR confirmed Percat would be extending his contract with the team.

The 33-year-old, who joined BJR in 2017, was unable to travel to Albury to deliver the news to his co-workers in person.

Best Percat moments at Brad Jones Racing

It left him with no option but to tell them via a group Zoom call on Monday.

"It was not pleasant," Percat told Supercars.com.

"Obviously, you kind of feel like you're breaking up with them.

"They are more than just mechanics or team members, so it was a very, very tough conversation.

Advertisement

"We obviously had to do it over Zoom because I couldn't get to Albury in person, which was the original plan Brad and I had.

"Then the internet kept freezing and glitching so that was annoying, but we made it work in the end."

Percat joined the team in 2017, and scored two wins at Sydney Motorsport Park in 2020.

"It was hard to read the room over Zoom when I told them," Percat said of the team’s reaction to his departure.

"A few of them have reached out and spoken to since, so I guess some of them took it okay, but honestly, I don't 100 per cent know.

"I’m fine with it, it's kind of nice to have it off my chest and be able to tell the guys at the team, especially before we get back into racing again.

"It’s good to have it out there, so there's no awkwardness before we get back to racing."

Percat is yet to confirm his plans for 2022, with Andre Heimgartner confirmed to be joining BJR driver line-up next season.

Related News

Advertisement