Percat, Courtney bat away speculation over 2026 plans

Nick Percat and James Courtney are giving little away over their racing future amid speculation over their 2026 plans.

2011 Bathurst 1000 winner Percat announced his full-time Supercars retirement last month, bringing an end to a career that began out of the Walkinshaw stable in 2014. Courtney, meanwhile, revealed his intention to retire last year.

The 2026 Enduro Cup grid is set to look markedly different, with outgoing 2025 drivers Percat, Courtney, Will Davison, Richie Stanaway, Bryce Fullwood and Jaxon Evans all set to transition into co-driving next season.

Already, Walkinshaw Andretti United has snapped up Evans, who will race alongside Ryan Wood. Grove Racing, meanwhile, announced Dale Wood's exit on Wednesday.

Dick Johnson Racing is set to retain Todd Hazelwood and Tony D'Alberto, while Courtney has been heavily linked to Team 18. PremiAir Racing-bound Declan Fraser also leaves a vacancy at Brad Jones Racing, where Percat raced between 2017 and 2021.

Where Courtney and Percat land was a talking point on the latest Drivers Only episode, where both drivers tried to pry answers out of each other.

At the top of pit lane, there could be change at Triple Eight Race Engineering and Tickford Racing, with Dale Wood's exit also opening a spot at Grove Racing.

At Triple Eight, Scott Pye's two-year deal has expired, with Jamie Whincup operating on a year-by-year basis. Since Whincup said he would make a call after Bathurst in June, the likes of Percat, Davison and Stanaway have all arrived on the market.

Courtney repeatedly jabbed Percat over a possible move to Triple Eight, which will expand to three cars in 2026 with the arrival of the SCT Motorsport licence and rookie Jackson Walls.

"Also next year there's another Triple Eight car — not that I'm saying that's where you're going, three numbers in their name," Courtney directed at Percat.

Later, Courtney added: "I did have an offer to drive at a good team, and I decided 20 years was enough... alright, it was Triple Eight. They said they're going to take Nick Percat instead."

On the topic of Zach Bates turning his mid-table Super2 form into impressive pace in Triple Eight's main game wildcard, Courtney took another swipe: "Is that the Triple Eight thing again? You'll know soon."

Percat played it up himself, pointing at Blanchard Racing Team-bound Golding: "I might go with Jimmy next year. You know what? He's the only bloke that's actually come to me and said, 'do you want to drive with me next year?' Very nice of him."

Courtney's own future was a talking point. The Sydney-born driver has yet to confirm if he will move into co-driving next season, and has made a successful shift towards real estate on the Gold Coast.

"Say for us two, if we put ourselves in the right car next year," Percat posed to Courtney, who replied: "I haven't decided what I'm doing, mate."

In response, James Golding pointed to Courtney: "You will definitely be driving something," to which Courtney replied: "Kids to school."

What is certain, is Courtney and Percat won't return to the full-time game, something the latter took into his own hands.

"There was a bit of stuff going on, must have been just after Ipswich," Percat said.

"I made the decision to not keep fighting to try and get another seat somewhere. So yeah, I was like, I was going to call my retirement because I'm going to enjoy the last four rounds.

"That's why I did it... everything looks like a sideways step or the same kind of shit show."