Percat fined over Brown pit lane incident

Matt Stone Racing driver Nick Percat has been fined over his role in Friday's pit lane incident in Tasmania.

Percat and Will Brown collided at the end of Practice 2 on Friday afternoon, with the two Camaros coming together at pit entry.

In a stewards report, Percat was fined $3000 and found guilty of reckless driving, "any unintentional action by a driver which creates serious risk to others."

Over team radio, Percat claimed Brown brake-tested him, with Triple Eight Race Engineering forced into significant repairs to Brown's car.

According to the stewards report, Triple Eight Team Manager Mark Dutton asserted that the impacts were intentionally caused by Percat, while Percat admitted that the impacts were "caused by his misjudgement."

However, Percat "strenuously denied that he deliberately drove" into Brown.

Per the report, Percat was obliged to take reasonable action to avoid contact and did not, with his driving deemed reckless given that the impacts occurred in the pit lane where officials and other crew frequent.

Stewards did not find any intentional impact, but said the fine "reflects the seriousness of the action of the Driver, and is in accordance with recommended penalties for such breaches."

The full report reads:

The Stewards, having summoned the Competitors (document numbers 4 and 5), heard from the Authorised Team Representatives and Drivers have considered the following matter and determine the following:

Competitor Matt Stone Racing Pty Ltd

No. and Driver Car 10 Nick Percat

Date Friday, 9 May 2025

Session Practice 2

Time: 1533hrs

Fact Cars 10 made contact to Car 1 after entering Pit Lane.

Rule Schedule B2 Article 2.1.2 Reckless Driving, any unintentional action by a Driver which creates serious risk to others

Decision The Driver Nick Percat is fined $3,000

Reason Car 1 has entered the Pit Lane followed by Car 10 which has taken a different line and the gap between the two cars narrowed. The impact occurred, partially turning Car 1.

Despite both cars braking there was a second impact and there was significant damage to both cars as a result of the impacts.

The Authorised Representative for Car 1, Mark Dutton, asserted that the impacts were intentionally caused by the driver of Car 10, Nick Percat.

Nick Percat admitted that the impacts were caused by his misjudgement but strenuously denied that he deliberately drove into Car 1.

The cars having entered Pit Lane, the following car, Car 10, was obliged to take reasonable action to avoid contact and did not.

The driving was reckless given that the impacts occurred in the Pit Lane where officials and other Team Member frequent.

We do not find any intentional impact.

The Cars took different lines and there is scope for the impacts to have occurred other than intentionally.

We accept Nick Percat’s assertion that he didn’t intentionally make contact with Car 1. The Fine reflects the seriousness of the action of the Driver, and is in accordance with recommended penalties for such breaches.

The Competitor is reminded that Decisions and Penalties that may be subject to Appeal are set out in B7.7.2 and the Rights to and process for an Appeal are set out in B5.