Stone determined to solve Percat's 2025 qualifying woes
Nick Percat is ranked 16th of all drivers in qualifying
MSR driver has qualified in top 10 in four of 22 attempts
Percat sits 13th, 103 points out of championship top 10
Matt Stone is determined to solve Nick Percat’s qualifying woes amid the 2011 Bathurst winner's fight to stay in touch with the top 10.
The Bendix Chevrolet driver has hovered around the bubble all season, and currently sits 13th, a position he has held after the last four events.
After falling 117 points behind 10th in New Zealand, Percat wiped 71 points off the deficit in the next two rounds, before it blew out again to 103 in Townsville.
Percat's biggest killer has been qualifying pace, or lack thereof; the 362-race veteran is ranked 16th in qualifying with an average grid position of 13.79, versus his race average of 12.5.
In contrast, Cameron Hill is ranked seventh in qualifying with an average grid of 10.21, which is 3.58 positions better than veteran teammate Percat, who is engineered by Jack Bellotti.
2025 season averages: Nick Percat
Round | Av. grid | Av. race | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
Sydney | 14.0 | 16.0 | -2.0 |
Melbourne | 7.5 | 6.0 | +1.5 |
Taupō | 21.7 | 19.0 | +2.7 |
Tasmania | 12.0 | 10.3 | +1.7 |
Perth | 12.3 | 12.3 | - |
Darwin | 17.7 | 11.3 | +6.4 |
Townsville | 21.7 | 16.0 | +5.7 |
Season | 13.8 | 12.5 | +1.3 |
In 22 qualifying attempts, Percat has qualified in the top 10 just four times, two of them coming in Melbourne. Race pace isn't a problem; in three of those top 10 starts, he converted to a podium finish.
In Townsville, Percat charged from 20th to 13th on Saturday, and 23rd to 12th on Sunday.
Given Percat's position in the championship, and with Hill now just outside the 10, Stone is determined to rectify the problems to get both MSR Camaros in Finals contention.
"For Nick, we've got to get qualifying sorted," Stone said post-race in Townsville.
"We've got to have a bit of a deep dive and try and figure out qualifying. The race pace is great, we went from right down the back to almost in the top 10.
"We've just got to get that qualifying sorted, and get back on track."
Percat is one of 11 active drivers to have contested the last Supercars round at Queensland Raceway in 2019, along with Chaz Mostert, David Reynolds, Cam Waters, Will Davison, James Courtney, Anton De Pasquale, Andre Heimgartner, James Golding, Macauley Jones and Jack Le Brocq.
The 2025 Supercars season resumes at the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440. Supercars drivers will contest three races at the August 8-10 event. Tickets are on sale now. International viewers can watch the action on SuperView.
2025 Supercars Finals Focus: Nick Percat
Championship position at end of each round, difference to 10th
Round | Position | Pts to 10th |
|---|---|---|
Sydney | 17th | -53 |
Melbourne | 10th | - |
Taupō | 14th | -117 |
Tasmania | 13th | -68 |
Perth | 13th | -46 |
Darwin | 13th | -63 |
Townsville | 13th | -103 |
