Percat set for last-minute single-seater return
Supercars ace Nick Percat will make a competitive return to single-seater racing this weekend at a state championship event in Western Australia.
Percat has taken up a last-minute offer to drive one of Arise Racing's Formula 1000 cars at Barbagallo Raceway tomorrow, a text message yesterday afternoon leading to a flight from Melbourne to Perth this morning.
He's testing the car this afternoon, ahead of a qualifying session and three races tomorrow.
It will be Percat's first race in an open-wheeler since he won a Formula MRF race at the Indian Grand Prix back in 2011, two years after he dominated the Australian Formula Ford Championship.
"Honestly, I was hanging around at home with [my dog] Nelson on Thursday and I got a text message saying 'what are you doing? Do you want to have a skid this weekend?'," explained Percat.
"I said 'yeah, why not?'. We checked the flights, found what we needed, and I jumped on the bird this morning and flew to Perth. So I genuinely only found out about 4pm yesterday.
"I don't know a lot about the cars, but I'm expecting it to be a lot of fun to drive. I'm just looking forward to driving an open-wheeler again. I haven't even thought about expectations or anything like that, I haven't had time to.
"But I'm looking forward to it. When you race against different people you learn new tricks. That's why I do the karting as well. There will be some guys in the field here who are young and have new ways of doing things. You never stop learning."
The one-off appearance also strengthens ties between Percat and Arise, the 2011 Bathurst 1000 winner set to judge a talent search programme for the team later this month.
"The positive for me is that I get a closer look at what Arise Racing is doing over here, and a better understanding of the car that the talent search winner will be racing," he added.
"So it works out well, and I get to have a bit of fun along the way."
The 13-car F1000 field will also include former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson, now a regular on the state racing scene in WA.
Previous article
Percat checked by doctors after Townsville fire
Next article
Boost boss offers Lowndes $50,000 to swap cars with Stanaway
About this article
| Series | Supercars , Other open wheel |
| Drivers | Nick Percat |
| Author | Andrew van Leeuwen |
Sam Brabham drives BT-19 at Mount Panorama
Todd Kelly builds André's Bathurst 1000 engine
Can DJR still be a Supercars powerhouse after Penske?
Roger Penske's whirlwind Australian Supercars sojourn is over. After six seasons, three drivers' titles, three teams' championships and a Bathurst 1000 crown, The Captain has sold his controlling stake in Dick Johnson Racing back to the squad and walked away from the category.
Can Whincup be Triple Eight's ruthless leader?
Supercars' most successful team of the past 15 years is set for a radical shakeup next year when Jamie Whincup retires from driving and takes over the reins at Triple Eight. But does he have what it takes to be the new Roland Dane?
How a lifetime Supercars deal broke down in one year
David Reynolds inked what was effectively a lifetime deal with Erebus in 2019 – only to walk out a year later. What went wrong?
Why Supercars now needs a new "human salt harvester"
Scott McLaughlin has been a controversial figure in Supercars over the past few years but, as he heads off to a fresh challenge in IndyCar, the Australian tin-top series needs to find someone else to fill his drama-filled boots as the category enters a new era...
Why 2020 isn't McLaughlin's greatest title
Scott McLaughlin was quick to describe his third Supercars title as his best yet. But even though it didn't match the dramatic backstory of his 2018 triumph, there's a good reason for him wanting to control the narrative this time around.
Why a Bathurst finale is risky business for Supercars
The Bathurst Grand Final may provide Supercars its greatest spectacle yet – but there's a risk it will force the series to face a hard truth.
Why Scott McLaughlin must become an IndyCar driver
Scott McLaughlin, two-time and current Supercars champion, should have been making his NTT IndyCar Series debut for Team Penske at the GP of Indianapolis, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced a rescheduling that has put the brakes on his career switch. But David Malsher-Lopez explains why the New Zealander deserves this opportunity as soon as possible.
Tickford's 10-year wait for James Courtney
When the Supercars season resumes James Courtney will be a Tickford Racing driver – but it's not the first time the star driver has flirted with the famous Ford squad.
