The secret weapon that could drive Percat into Finals

Nick Percat has his eyes firmly set on using the upcoming Enduro Cup as his launch pad into a potential Finals berth.

Following a stunning 2024 campaign that saw a career resurgence thanks to two victories at his new home at Matt Stone Racing, it's been a quieter start to this season for the 36-year-old, highlighted by three podiums.

In one of the earliest moves in the co-driver market, MSR quickly snapped up the services of Tim Slade in February, following his full-time retirement from Supercars after the 2024 season.

The all-South Australian pairing will be one of the most experienced on the grid come the long-distance races, with Percat looking to improve on a tough 2024 enduro campaign that saw him slip from a potential top five points finish to an eventual eighth at season's end.

Talking on Supercars' Cool Down Lap podcast in Darwin, Percat says that although the remaining Repco Sprint Cup rounds in Townsville and Ipswich will be important, the enduros at The Bend and Bathurst will be the most crucial point of the Finals chase.

“It's just trying to be in the top 10. It's no different to any other year because you want to be in the top 10 anyway,” Percat said.

"I think it's close, but then obviously the enduros, there's so many points. I know we're all talking about, ‘Oh, it's 10 points this, 10 points that’.

"But if I rock up and have two really solid top fives at two enduros, I'm safe. I think we are probably getting a little bit excited, but obviously it's a good spectacle, another talking point.

“But with so many points in offers just for two weekends, honestly, people could come from a fair way back. Look at Kai [Allen]. I don't know where he was before this weekend, but he is now there [moving to 12th in standings].

“So it just takes two good races and you're on.”

It was a solid weekend for Percat at the betr Darwin Triple Crown, with finishes of seventh, 11th, and 16th helping the 2011 Bathurst winner maintain 13th in the points standings, just 63 points below the cut off line.

"I'm just trying to stay within striking distance on our bad days of probably eighth in the championship,” Percat added.

"So yeah, we're well in touch with that. Could have fought people harder today, but I didn't wanna get taken out or lose any extra points. So, you're definitely mindful of it.

“[Saturday] was good, maximised what we had. And then [Sunday], I just had to do a bit of survival and prayed for some misfortune for others, but it didn't come."

Finals Focus: Nick Percat

Championship position at end of each round, gap to 10th

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship continues at the NTI Townsville 500 from July 11-13. Tickets for the event are on sale now.