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Tensions Erupt

22 Aug 2015
Dale Wood has accused fellow driver Nick Percat of making "a fool of himself" after he confronted him in the Brad Jones Racing garage.
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Percat and Wood go head to head

Dale Wood has accused fellow driver Nick Percat of making "a fool of himself" after the LDM driver confronted him in the Brad Jones Racing garage.

On-track issues at Sydney Motorsport Park caused Percat to storm into the BJR garage after race one and give Wood a piece of his mind.

Percat -who earned his first solo podium at this circuit last year with Walkinshaw Racing - and Wood were fighting for 21st place and came together early in the race at turn seven.

The incident was flagged by the stewards, with Driving Standards Observer Jason Bargwanna to assess the incident post-race.

Percat was animated in footage caught in the BJR garage and speaking to Greg Murphy for the telecast shortly after, revealed there was contact between the drivers during the in-lap after the race.

"Generally the way with him, and a few other people who are here on different reasons ... we [can't] go through side by side like everyone else does, he just turns in," Percat began.

"He would've been up the inside at the next corner, it's not worth racing over like that.

"And on the in-lap he's come up next to me and nailed me in the front wheel, bent the steering, ripped the wheel out of my hand and smashed the exhaust.

"So I've asked him to come fix my car as well as his with his money, so it'll be good."

It's not the first time 2011 Bathurst winner Percat has lost his temper this season, having an outburst at Darwin earlier this year after an incident also involving Will Davison and Jamie Whincup.

But Percat believed he had kept his cool with Wood.

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"I tried talking to him and being pretty calm and said that's not on, on the in-lap and he goes off, so that's it."

Wood was careful to be respectful of Percat when asked to respond. He has been involved in clashes of his own this year including one with stablemate Fabian Coulthard at Winton earlier this year.

"Yeah, that's always the case - we're racing cars," Wood said when asked about their difference of opinions.

"Nick's an awesome driver and I respect that. We have some silly encounters and I felt like we got turned around and I don't know, he has to come down here and make a fool of himself.

"Like I say I think he's a great driver and does a good job but we're racing cars and going to come together."

Percat finished 21st in the first race and Wood 24th.

Both fared slightly better in the second, with Percat 17th and Wood 21st.

The Stewards will hand down a ruling on the incidents once investigations have been completed.

UPDATE Sunday August 23, 11am:

Both incidents were investigated by the stewards and Percat and Wood each received points penalties for their conduct yesterday.

Percat was handed a 25-point penalty for his part, while Wood was slapped with a 35-point penalty for what was deemed reckless driving.

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