PERCAT BEND-IX LIKE BECKHAM AT THE NED WHISKY TAS SUPERSPRINT

Nick Percat has scored his second win of the season in the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship at Symmons Plains Raceway.

His win also brought Matt Stone Racing their second Supercars race victory.

Unlike their previous win at the Australian Grand Prix, there was no need for good luck or misfortune for others to secure the win in Race 17 of the championship.

“I don’t think anyone can say we lucked into it with people spearing off, or anything,” said Percat, still mindful of the circumstances which surrounded the Grand Prix win.

“The Bendix car has been on rails since we rolled out the truck. It is a pleasure to drive.”

Percat lined up on the second row for the start of Race 17, with Broc Feeney on pole and Cameron Waters second. Brodie Kostecki had his best qualifying for some time to take third, just ahead of Percat.

SEE THE FULL NED WHISKY SUPERSPRINT GALLERY HERE

The qualifying order was somewhat disheveled due to a late red flag in the second session, which caught out a number of drivers, including early pace-setters David Reynolds and championship leader Will Brown. That saw the Tradie Camaro start from 11th and the #87 Red Bull Ampol Racing entry in 15th.

Feeney took control of the race from the outset, he moved across the take the racing line into Turns 1 and 2, then set off to establish a safe gap before the hairpin. Waters slotted into second and Percat was quickly into third. Kostecki had a more cautious start to the race and lost places to Percat and then Mostert.

There was the usual jostling within the mid-pack which saw Brown end the race sporting a rather concertina effect on his rear bumper, a feature not uncommon amongst those who started from further back in the field.

Anton De Pasquale and Matt Payne also had some panel damage after a racing incident ended in a spin for the Penrite Racing Mustang and the pair left well down the order.

The relatively short lap time around the Symmons Plains circuit placed added pressure of crew for their compulsory pitstop, in terms of both time and strategy. It was here that the race was ultimately won.

A sub four-second stop for Percat, who was brought in after Feeney, saw the Bendix Camaro rejoin ahead of the #88. Chaz Mostert’s WAU team also gambled with their stop and elected to replace three wheel on the Mobil 1 Optus Racing Camaro. Whilst the #25 sat back in third as the race counted down the final 10 laps, it gave him a distinct tyre advantage over the two cars ahead.

SEE THE FULL NED WHISKY SUPERSPRINT GALLERY HERE

Mostert accounted for Feeney at the final corner with just on five laps remaining. He then set sights on his ex-teammate and steadily reduced the gap. Time ultimately favoured Percat, who hung on the a sixth-tenths of a second advantage at the chequered flag.

Feeney finished third, ahead of Waters, Kostecki, Hill, Brown, Slade, Reynolds and Fullwood.

The result has seen Brown’s championship lead over Mostert reduced from 105 to 63 points.

---

SUBSCRIBE TO VELOCITY MAGAZINE 

For all our news keep your eyes peeled on the Velocity Magazine website and social media, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for our daily updates and to get the latest edition of our glossy magazine subscribe here from just $55 for 12 months subscription.

GET OUR LATEST ISSUE NUMBER 51 HERE

 

 

NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR