WAU backs Percat to bounce back

Walkinshaw Andretti United has backed Nick Percat amid the veteran’s rough start to life with the team.

Percat is 25th and last in the standings after three rounds in 2023, with teammate Chaz Mostert second.

The 2011 Bathurst winner joined WAU last year, and had to wait until the Adelaide season finale to score a podium.

His second season with the team has been littered with poor luck, highlighted by a fire at Albert Park.

It came after the #2 Mobil 1 NTI Ford suffered a wheel bearing failure in Newcastle, consigning Percat to a Race 1 DNF.

In nine starts, Percat has an average starting position of 16.6, and a best finish of 13th in the Perth finale.

So far this season, Mostert leads the qualifying head-to-head 8-1, and 9-0 in the races.

However, WAU Team Principal Bruce Stewart said the team backs Percat, who this weekend celebrates 300 Supercars races.

"I think it's been pretty clear with, whether it's been a wheel bearing or a fire, that the gods haven't reflected beautifully on Nick this year," Stewart said ahead of this weekend’s NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint.

"We back his talents and tenacity and he's in a great space. We're excited about what's coming forward."

Leading teams Triple Eight, Dick Johnson Racing and Erebus Motorsport all have their 2024 line-ups locked in.

Tickford Racing boss Tim Edwards also suggested the team’s 2023 line-up, spearheaded by Cam Waters, is also unlikely to change for 2024.

Mostert and Percat combine for over 600 Supercars races, and will be joined by Lee Holdsworth and Fabian Coulthard for the enduros.

This year, WAU returned to Super2 with young drivers Ryan Wood and Zach Bates, the former winning both Perth races.

The team has also entered a car in Toyota 86 for Matt Hillyer.

When queried about WAU’s position with its main game line-up, Stewart said: "It's Tassie, it's May, it's early days.

"Eyes forward, let's just do the best job we can and leave those kinds of conversations until later in the year."

Race 12 on Sunday will be Percat's 300th race, some 13 years since his debut in 2010 as a co-driver.

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint this weekend.

Supercars will hit the track for the first time on Saturday for Practice 1 at 9:00am local time.

Tickets for the event are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.