Percat: Adelaide perfect place for Holden farewell
Adelaide is the "perfect" setting for Holden’s Supercars swansong, says Commodore veteran Nick Percat.
The Commodore’s final starts will come at the VALO Adelaide 500 on December 1-4.
Holden will be replaced in Supercars by Chevrolet and the Camaro from 2023.
The Holden brand runs in Percat’s veins, given his family’s affiliation with the iconic Australian brand.
The 2011 Bathurst winner is the fourth generation of his family with ties to Holden.
In 1949, Percat's great grandfather Paolo fled Istria for Australia with his wife and four children.
Paolo's family, at one stage, lived in a migrant camp in Mallala.
The nearby Mallala circuit would later prove pivotal to current Supercars veteran Percat’s future.
One of Paolo's children Italo — also known as Nick — would later work at Holden’s Woodville and Elizabeth plants.
Paolo followed his son to Woodville, having worked at the Chrysler factory.
Italo had a son — Marc — and two daughters. Marc worked for Holden at the Elizabeth plant, and left before Nick was born.
In 2011, the Percat family legacy with Holden was cemented in Supercars by Nick's stunning Bathurst win with Garth Tander.
The win came in a factory Holden Racing Team Commodore, an achievement of immense pride for the Percats.
Having known nothing but Holden, Percat admitted a future without the brand will be "strange".
Percar won the 2016 Adelaide 500 in a Holden
"Ending the season in Adelaide is the perfect way to send off the Holden brand," Percat told Supercars.com.
"The track is roughly 15 kilometres away from the old plant.
"My dad, grandfather and great grandfather all worked for Holden.
"Through Supercars and Super2, I've always raced with the Holden badge on the car there.
"Driving a Holden for the very last time will be strange."
Percat, Chaz Mostert and Walkinshaw Andretti United will shift to Ford in 2023.
Percat joked the Ford move will be a point of contention for his family, given the strong Holden ties.
Two more races before Percat shifts to Ford
Percat has taken Commodores to victory lane in Adelaide before, famously winning the 2016 Adelaide 500.
He also won the 2011 Super2 round in Adelaide, and was Mostert’s closest challenger in 2012.
With WAU crossing the divide next year, Percat knows he and his team will have added pressure to perform next month.
"Every race there has been fun, even thinking back to Super2," he said.
"I remember battling with Chaz, Scotty [McLaughlin], [Scott] Pye — they were fun races.
"I’ve always had pretty good results there, I’m looking forward to hopefully finishing off well with the brand.
“It’s especially important for our team to get a good result.
“Everyone aligns the Holden brand with HRT and the Walkinshaw family.
"Hopefully, Chaz and I, along with the team, can send off Holden well."
