Supercars: How Percat went from wanting to quit to loving every second

Nick Percat ruined Red Bull’s perfect start to the Supercars season, claiming victory to overcome a long drought in the sport at Albert Park’s Grand Prix.

Julian Linden and Rebecca Williams

11 min read

March 24, 2024 - 1:00PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Broc Feeney wins from teammate Will Brown at Albert Park. Picture: Mark Horsburgh

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Nick Percat ruined Red Bull’s perfect start to the V8 Supercars series with an emotional victory after a wild race at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

Competing in his 322nd career race, Percat claimed just his fifth win - and his first since 2020 - after he held off the two charging Red Bulls of Will Brown and Broc Feeney.

Brown and Feeney had already won the first five races of the 2024 season, including the first three at Albert Park, but neither could find a way past a determined Percat, who almost gave the sport away last year.

But he decided to give it another shot, leaving Walkinshaw Andretti United during the off season to join the Matt Stone Racing team. Already, it seems like the smartest move he’s made.

“I wanted to quit,” Percat said. “And now round two, we’ve won a race. It’s seriously amazing.

“Last 18 months, I hated every second of that mob. So, honestly, the moment I walked into MSR, I knew this is where I needed to be.”

Starting from fourth on the grid, Percat took the race lead midway through the 14-lap sprint and never looked back after the three cars in front of him all came to grief.

Nick Percat claimed his first win since 2020. Picture: Getty Images

Pole sitter Chaz Mostert lost his advantage as soon the lights went out when he spun his wheels and allowed New Zealand’s Matthew Payne to take the lead.

Mostert and Payne both dropped back through the field when they touched at high speed ran of course while Cam Waters was unable to hold out Percat then the two Red Bulls, who were battling each other for the championship lead and the Larry Perkins trophy, awarded to the driver who accrued the most points from the four races held during the Formula One Grand Prix.

They went wheel for wheel five laps from the chequered flag with Brown eventually overtaking Feeney then holding on to finish second behind Percat, whose fortunes were in stark contrast to a year ago when his car caught on fire.

Brown’s runner-up place was enough for him to win the Perkins trophy by eight points from Feeney and extend his lead over his new teammate in the championship standings to 17 points.

“It’s pretty cool. It was an awesome weekend,” Brown said.

“It was so close between me and Broc. It was whoever beat who in that one for the Larry Perkins trophy.

“I would have liked to have got Nick but after we had that three way battle everyone’s tyres were hurting a fair bit.

“I made a mistake out of turn one on about the third last lap, and cooked them but Nick was driving awesome, he’s doing a great job. out there and it’s cool to see him get a win as well.”

Feeney, who won the Perkins trophy last year, said he thought he was going to take all the spoils but just couldn’t pull it off.

“Nick’s a great bloke and he deserves that,” Feeney said.

“It was pretty wild out there. I think we’re in a good position so I’m absolutely gutted with the third.

“I felt like I had the opportunity to win that race and probably just didn’t execute it but I had a crack. Both cars have been unreal this weekend so the team’s doing a great job.”

The next round of the Repco Supercars Championship takes place in New Zealand next month.

‘Didn’t know he was there’: Face off as crash wipes out race leaders

Broc Feeney and his new team mate Will Brown escaped the carnage ahead of them as tempers threatened to boil over at Albert Park to post another Red Bull one-two in the V8 Repco Supercars series on Saturday.

The pair were all smiles after they got the job done again while Cam Waters and Matt Payne were both left fuming after they collided with each while jostling for the lead.

Both men ended up slamming their cars into the wall and retiring early from the third of the four Supercars races during the Australian Grand Prix but that was not the end of the matter.

Waters climbed out of his wreckage to remonstrate with the New Zealander Payne, who was leading the race after qualifying on pole position for the first time in his career.

Cam Waters and Matt Payne came together and are both out of the Supersprint ðŸ˜®

ðŸ“ºWATCH #RepcoSC on Ch. 506 or stream via @kayosports
: https://t.co/LS34qU8RJd pic.twitter.com/zR3JVJcV5e
— Fox Motorsport (@Fox_Motorsport) March 23, 2024

“I didn’t even know he was there so it’s unfortunate,” Payne said.

“We’re in a really good position, obviously, to win the race so it’s disappointing, you’re always going to have races like this where it’s just unfortunate you have an incident.”

Unimpressed, Waters slammed the door on Payne’s car immediately after the incident then let rip again when asked if the Kiwi was to blame

“I was just trying to set him up for the last corner and he’s just come across,” Waters said.

“I don’t know if he didn’t see I was there, but if he didn’t know I was there it was pretty bad spatial awareness.

“It’s really bad, it’s a brand new car put in the wall. Obviously his car is damaged as well but it’s just shit.

“The boys will fix her up all night, I’ve got an amazing crew, I’ll pick my bottom lip up and try to go tomorrow.”

Race stewards found neither driver was to blame for the crash which gifted the race to the Red Bulls, with Feeney taking the chequered flag for his second win in three days

“I’m pretty bloody excited about that one,” Feeney said.

“Another ripper start, which was great, we’ve been working on that. Those boys were racing for sheep stations at the start. That was pretty wild.

“I just tried to settle in, I knew something would happen at some point.

“I just tried to capitalise when I could, it was unfortunate for those guys, they have been super quick. But a Red Bull 1-2, how good.”

Brown, who won on Friday, took second place to retain his lead in the championship, moving to 506 points, 12 clear of Feeney.

“I thought we would have to work pretty hard for that one but there was some awesome racing going on in those first couple of laps,” Brown said.

“Unfortunately for Matt and Cam it just looked like unfortunate circumstances, a racing incident, and it would have been cool to have them up there and having a really good battle.”

Chaz Mostert also benefited from the crash up the road, finishing third to remain third in the title standings heading into Sunday’s sixth round.

“I kind of feel like I Bradbury’d this one to be honest. Bit upsetting seeing two of the guys out the front in the fence. This happens in racing,” he said.

“I had a big go, I couldn’t go with those things (Red Bull cars) in a straight line for whatever reason again.”

RACE 5 at Melbourne Park

1. Broc Feeney - Red Bull Ampol Racing

2. Will Brown - Red Bull Ampol Racing

3. Chaz Mostert - Mobil1 Optus Racing

4. David Reynolds - Tradie Beer Racing

5. Jack Le Brocq - Erebus Motorsport

6. Todd Hazelwood - Erebus Motorsport

7. Richie Stanaway - Penrite Racing - 259

8. Tim Slade - PremiAir Nulon Racing

9. Nick Percat - Bendix Racing

10. Ryan Wood - Mobil1 Truck Assist Racing

Championship standings (after five rounds)

1. Will Brown - Red Bull Ampol Racing - 506 points

2. Broc Feeney - Red Bull Ampol Racing - 494

3. Chaz Mostert - Mobil1 Optus Racing - 423

4. Nick Percat - Bendix Racing - 330

5. David Reynolds - Tradie Beer Racing - 316

6. Richie Stanaway - Penrite Racing - 307

7. Matthew Payne - Penrite Racing - 302

8. Jack Le Brocq - Erebus Motorsport - 295

9. Todd Hazelwood - Erebus Motorsport - 273

10. Mark Winterbottom - Dewalt Racing - 270

BROWN CLAIMS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

Will Brown turned the tables on his teammate Broc Feeney to win a wild race at Albert Park on Friday to regain the championship lead in the V8 Repco Supercars series.

Less than 24 hours after finishing runner-up to Feeney, Brown drove a perfect race out front to claim his second win of the new season and leapfrog his Red Bull Ampol teammate at the top of the standings.

As well as taking the chequered flag, Brown also set the fastest lap of the race - earning five bonus points - to skip 18 clear of Feeney, who fell back to fourth after a costly error on the penultimate lap.

Brown started second on the grid but made a flying start and overtook pole sitter Cam Waters heading into the first turn and was never challenged again as he strengthened his grip on the Larry Perkins trophy, awarded to the driver who accrue the most points over the four successive Supercars races during the Grand Prix round.

Will Brown retook the championship lead after a win in Race 4. Picture: Getty Images

“It was really cool. I had a super fast car, but I was just able to manage it from the front there and save the tyres,” Brown said.

“They felt really good. It’s going to be hard to qualify here again. You’ve got to make no mistake. So hopefully we qualify for the next two races.”

Running second at the time, less than a second behind Brown, Feeney locked his brakes and ran wide, enabling veteran racer Mark Winterbottom to sneak through and take second spot to secure his first podium finish since he ended a seven year drought by winning at Darwin in June last year.

“That was hectic,” Winterbottom said.

“No pit stops makes it an absolutely unbelievable race. But, 19 laps, with a bit of heat. You think ‘that’s not very long,‘ then all of a sudden, you’re managing tyres, there’s guys pushing, they drop off and there’s so much stuff going on.

“I’m really happy to get a podium for (team owner) Charlie (Schwerkolt) and we’re rebuilding and this team is really going somewhere so it’s enjoyable and I’m loving it.

“Our race pace is good so we’re definitely heading in the right direction for sure. I’m pumped, that was a really good result. You’ve just to get one first then you get the next one, then it builds so I’m very proud of the team and all our partners and everyone involved.”

Will Brown beat Mark Winterbottom and Matthew Payne to the chequered flag. Picture: Getty Images

Rising New Zealand star Matthew Payne also took advantage of Feeney’s slip up to finish third for the second day in a row at Albert Park, which is staging four successive Supercars races, despite finishing the race with a busted wheel rim.

“I have no idea. That happened at the start,” Payne said.

“I was battling with Anton (de Pasquale) at the start and we sort of came together at turn four.

“I lost the steering out of my hands and it just pulled me off the tracks so the wheels obviously interlocked but another third place is pretty good.

Will Brown was second in Race 3, but held on for victory in Friday’s Race 4. Picture: Getty Images

“I can’t complain. The car was pretty speedy. Around here, it’s all about picking the moves at the right time because there’s so much going on and everyone’s doing different strategies, trying to push with the tyre.

“It’s really hard to see who’s sort of got what. But good to have another podium, good solid points.”

Chaz Mostert remains third in the championship standings, albeit 83 points adrift of Brown, after dropping back to finish 17th because of problems with his tyres.

RACE 4 at Melbourne SuperSprint

1. Will Brown - Red Bull Ampol Racing

2. Mark Winterbottom - Dewalt Racing

3. Matthew Payne - Penrite Racing

4. Broc Feeney - Red Bull Ampol Racing

5. Will Davison - Shell V-Power Racing

6. Nick Percat - Bendix Racing

7. Cam Waters - Monster Castrol Racing

8. Jack Le Brocq - Erebus Motorsport

9. Todd Hazelwood - Erebus Motorsport

10. Tim Slade - PremiAir Nulon Racing

CHAMPIONSHIPS STANDINGS

1. Will Brown - Red Bull Ampol Racing - 437 points

2. Broc Feeney - Red Bull Ampol Racing - 419

3. Chaz Mostert - Mobil1 Optus Racing - 354

4. Matthew Payne - Penrite Racing - 302

5. Nick Percat - Bendix Racing - 288

6. Richie Stanaway - Penrite Racing - 259

7. David Reynolds - Tradie Beer Racing - 256

8. Jack Le Brocq - Erebus Motorsport - 240

9. Mark Winterbottom - Dewalt Racing - 237

10. Todd Hazelwood - Erebus Motorsport - 222

FEENEY FLIES TO RACE 3 WIN

BROC Feeney held off his new Red Bull teammate Will Brown to win the opening Supercars race at Albert Park on Thursday, securing maximum points with a blistering final lap to regain the championship lead.

Starting from pole position, Feeney made a slow getaway, surrendering the lead to Anton de Pasquale on exiting the first turn, but got himself back in front before the end of the first lap.

With clear air in front of him, Feeney was never headed again as he cruised to the chequered flag as the sun was setting, crossing the line 2.3 seconds ahead of Brown.

Saving his best for last, Feeney reeled off the fastest lap of the race on his final trip round the circuit to collect five bonus points.

Broc Feeney (centre), Will Brown (left) and Matthew Payne (right) on the podium after race 1 of the Melbourne Supersprint. Picture: Getty Images

That was enough for him to overtake Brown for the Repco championship lead, with 359 points. Brown, with wins and two second-place finishes this season, dropped black to second (357) with Chaz Mostert (327) third.

“That was bloody awesome,” Feeney said.

“We were just trying to manage it as best we could out front and then put the pace down at the end to try and get that fastest lap. I just love racing here.

“It’s such a cool place. It’s been a hectic day, pole, a win and the fastest lap. It’s been bloody good.

“It’s unreal for the team. Another one-two, that’s two out of three for the year. It’s been a ripper start but we’ve got a long way to go.”

Broc Feeney wins from teammate Will Brown, while Matt Payne finishes third. Picture: Mark Horsburgh

Starting from third, Brown got himself into his teammate’s rear view mirror before the halfway stage of the 20-lap race but did not attempt to go past him, despite saying he briefly thought about it.

“It would have been nice to have a bit of a go but it was all right,” Brown said.

“If it was someone else there it would have been on, but, nah, he was good, he was fast.

“I think he was managing it and that’s why he’s sitting there. He could have got going. He obviously had a lot of pace there.”

New Zealand’s Matt Payne got on the podium as officially finishing third despite running off the track on the penultimate corner and allowing Nick Percat to overtake him.

Payne managed to save his Penrite Racing car from a big prang to cross the line fourth but was elevated to third after Percat incurred a five-second penalty after he forced Mostert off the road earlier on.

“I made a pretty bad mistake on the last corner,” Payne said.

“I knew Percat had a five second penalty, so I wasn’t stressed if he passed me or not but when it was happening I was like ‘what is going on, I’m on the grass’ but, luckily we kept it.”

The Supercars series continues Friday with a second V8s race over 105 km at Albert Park followed by two more 80km sprints, one each on Saturday and Sunday.