Percat announces shock Supercars retirement

Nick Percat has sprung a surprise on the eve of the Repco Bathurst 1000, announcing his full-time Supercars retirement.

Percat, who turned 37 last month, has a contract with Matt Stone Racing through the end of 2027. However, amid speculation over his future with the team, Percat has taken his future into his own hands.

It ensures MSR will undergo a double driver change for 2026, with Cameron Hill recently announced at Brad Jones Racing at the expense of Bryce Fullwood.

Percat burst onto the Supercars scene with a stunning rookie triumph alongside Garth Tander at the 2011 Bathurst 1000. However, he had to wait until 2014 to make his full-time debut out of the Walkinshaw stable.

An otherwise troubled two-year stint with Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport reaped big headlines, Percat finishing third in the 2016 Bathurst 1000 just months after claiming a shock Adelaide 500 victory in shocking conditions.

The South Aussie driver moved to Brad Jones Racing in 2017, and reeled off four consecutive top 10 championship finishes, winning twice in 2020. A dream return to Walkinshaw Andretti United in 2022 delivered little results, with Percat entertaining the idea of retirement before signing on with MSR for 2024.

Wins in Melbourne and Tasmania revealed Percat as one of the stars of 2024, but after finishing eighth last season, fell down the order. Heading to Bathurst, he remains in Finals contention, albeit in 13th overall.

Away from Supercars, Percat dedicates his time and energy into his karting team and mentoring the next generation of racers.

“It was definitely not an easy decision because I’m still very competitive. I feel like I’m driving well and have got trophies this year,” said Percat, who has six wins and 19 podiums in his 366 race starts.

“So it has been quite a lengthy decision, but on the flip side, when one door closes, another opens. There was probably opportunity to stay on the grid but it’s about making sure you put yourself in the right place at the right time, so for me, now was a good time. We have got a lot going on with the JND kart team which is keeping us quite busy.

“When there was a decision to be made, I was actually at Ipswich Kart Club watching the kids drive around and I realised how much I do enjoy giving back to the sport and how much I enjoy watching the kids progress and learn and grow. So I was like, you know what, life after Supercars is still very cool, so that made it a lot easier.

“We’ll fire up the JND stuff a bit bigger and hopefully I’ll be able to get myself a nice co-drive and keep putting in good drives for whoever it is I might be driving alongside and try to get some big wins in the future."

Percat debuted in the 2010 Phillip Island 500, with this weekend's event his 165th Supercars round.

Alongside his commitments with JND Racing, Percat will look to announce his enduro co-driving future in due course.

“I look back at how fortunate I have been to be on the grid this long. Winning the Adelaide 500 is still one of the greatest achievements, with Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport, in those conditions – just to not crash the thing because we couldn’t see, let alone to win the race at your home event was amazing. Bathurst 2011 with Garth and HRT is something I’ll never forget and every time it comes on, I actually get goosebumps," Percat added.

“Even this year, being involved in a 1-2 for MSR, and my 1-2 with Chaz (Mostert) for the last Holden event in 2022, I have been fortunate that when I do stand on the podium they are very cool races and very meaningful.

“I have so many people to thank. Obviously I can’t look past Mum and Dad, because without them I never would have the opportunity to race a car.

"The support that I’ve had through the years from the HRT days, people like Garth and James Courtney, what they did for me as drivers when I was younger was extremely cool, and the support I’ve had from James Rosenberg over the years and people like Ben Auld who travelled around taking photos for us for free and the love of it to make sure we could document it.

"Also my manager Gareth Whiteley and of course Baylee [Mullen, fiance] for everything they do – they listen to the venting more than anyone! It’s been a big collective group that has made it work, so it has been a very good time.

“And now to get to do my last Bathurst as a main driver alongside Tim Slade is really, really cool because he is a good friend.”

Percat recently raced to fifth alongside Slade at the AirTouch 500 at The Bend.

2026 Repco Supercars Championship grid

As of Tuesday October 7, 2025