Percat: You don't just forget how to drive
Nick Percat has swapped WAU for MSR in 2024
Percat finished 15th and 20th in his two WAU campaigns
2011 Bathurst winner also runs karting operation away from racing
A key pillar of Nick Percat’s motivation with his new drive at Matt Stone Racing is to remind "remind everyone that you don’t just forget how to drive."
Towards the end of 2023, Percat signed a multi-year deal at MSR, replacing Erebus Motorsport-bound Jack Le Brocq.
The MSR opportunity is a golden chance for Percat to bury the demons of an unsuccessful stint at Walkinshaw Andretti United, which netted championship finishes of 15th and 20th.
Percat’s move to WAU came after an impressive five-year run with Brad Jones Racing, which ended in overall finishes of ninth, seventh and seventh in his last three seasons.
With his WAU stint a distant memory, Percat is now determined to send a reminder to his rivals that he is still a force not to be reckoned with.
“I just want to remind everyone that you don’t just forget how to drive,” Percat told Supercars.com.
“It’s a good opportunity with MSR, they won a race last year, and the Gen3 car suits their model and the way Matt runs the team.
“I want to enjoy going racing, and with people who have the same interests and that kind of stuff. Change is as good as a holiday.”
Percat has kept himself busy with his karting venture, which is expanding in 2024. The 35-year-old is relishing the opportunity to mentor young karters, something he could extend to second-year driver Cameron Hill.
Hill’s rookie campaign had its peaks and troughs, with the Canberra-born talent retained by MSR into 2024 alongside Percat.
Working with a second-year driver is a far cry from two years alongside established star Chaz Mostert, who comprehensively out-qualified and out-raced Percat in their two years together.
“Cam and I are at different stages of our career, hopefully he sees an opportunity to learn bits and pieces about what I do,” Percat said.
“He’s pretty fast, he’s done great things in other categories. It’s completely different to working with Chaz, it’s a different personality. There’s a great feel to it all, I’m keen to get started.”
Percat’s time with MSR began just after the final race in Adelaide, when Mostert wheeled him down to the garage in a traditional yet humorous 'delivery'. Since then, Percat has travelled to the team’s Queensland base to bed himself into the MSR way, and already, he likes what he sees.
“I popped up a few times before Christmas to meet everyone and get a feel for it,” Percat said.
"Matt has been good to the guys, he gave them a decent break, so everything will fire up there in the coming weeks.
“But everyone was really welcoming, the culture there is good, and Matt’s done some great stuff there to improve the team off-track. I’m looking forward to everything, even things like the team launch, the cars look awesome."
Percat will test with MSR for the first time at Queensland Raceway in early February ahead of the season-opening Thrifty Bathurst 500.
