Percat 'impressed' by S5000 test
Nick Percat has returned to his open-wheel roots, testing an S5000 racer under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park.
The 2009 Australian Formula Ford champion completed 43 laps of the Eastern Creek circuit on Thursday, during a four-hour open session for S5000 competitors.
The opportunity was provided by Sydney-based team Volante Rosso Racing, who is set to enter the category for the 2022 season.
The squad’s regular driver Josh Hunt was unable to attend the test day due to Queensland border restrictions, with Percat stepping in to assist the team with their car preparation for next year.
The Brad Jones Racing driver, who scored his second Supercars podium of the season earlier this month, gave a glowing review of the S5000 machinery.
"My first reaction was 'Holy...'!" Percat said.
"When it came on and the power was there, it was seriously impressive.
"I think the smile would have been big. No window in front of me, everything feels way faster.
"The speeds aren't massively different, but it feels like I'm doing 400km/h, so it's very cool.
"Credit to the team and Josh [Hunt]. It's great to have the car running tonight.
"They're not running the Tasman Series yet, but it's good to have the car out there and hopefully get a bit of interest around what they are doing.
Percat claimed his second podium of the season in Sydney
"It's a pleasure to rock up and drive someone else's car, there was no 'hey, just go easy', it was 'go and ring its neck' and give us some feedback.
"Hopefully we can help build their program and get some good steerers in them next year."
It comes as Percat is restoring an important piece of his own open-wheel history, the Mygale SJ07A in which he won the Australian Formula Ford Championship back in 2009.
Reigning S5000 Australian Drivers' Champion Joey Mawson topped the four hours of pre-event testing on Thursday, with ex-F1 driver Spaniard Roberto Merhi's clocking the fifth-fastest time ahead of his S5000 debut.
The S5000 field will join the undercard at Sydney Motorsport Park
His international teammate Yoshiaki Katayama was eighth - 0.5 seconds behind - with the pair split by James Golding and Jordan Boys.
The S5000 Tasman Series field hits the track for two practice sessions and qualifying at 1:25pm AEDT.
The Repco Supercars Championship will resume this weekend at the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight.
Every session of the event will be broadcast live on Foxtel (Fox Sports 506) and streamed on Kayo.
The Seven Network will provide live free to air coverage of the event.
Tickets for the event are on sale now.
