Nick Percat makes the big shift from fill-in to full-time in V8 Supercars at Clipsal 500

NICK Percat has already won Bathurst but this week’s Clipsal 500 is his official full-time debut in V8 Supercars.

SA driver Nick Percat makes his debut as a full-time V8 Supercars driver at this week’s C

NICK Percat isn’t the kind of guy who gets caught up on technicalities, so the minor detail that this week’s Clipsal 500 isn’t strictly his first V8 Supercars start is no big deal.

The Adelaide racer makes his debut as a full-time driver in the nation’s top motorsport category when the V8s hit the city streets on Friday.

Percat, who famously won Bathurst at his first attempt as Garth Tander’s co-driver in 2011, was a one-off substitute for injured Holden Racing Team stablemate James Courtney at the 2013 season’s final race in Sydney in December.

He said the experience from that event — even as a fill-in driver — gave him a rolling start for 2014.

“A week or so after James’s crash at Phillip Island one the boys came over and said ‘you’re going to be driving the car at Sydney because James has had his scans and he’s no good’,” Percat said.

“It was a weird emotion because you hope he’s okay and that it’s nothing too major, and on the other side you’re thinking this is amazing because I’m getting a head start on 2014.

“At Homebush I wasn’t out there to prove anything, I was just doing my own thing and I didn’t want to put a mark on the car.

“Plus I got to learn what the main game is about with qualifying, race day, everything.

“It was a perfect situation for me and given me a big head start into this year.”

Percat, 25, will today become the 25th and final driver to unveil the paint work on his V8 Supercar.

The Advertiser can reveal the first images of the Walkinshaw Racing Commodore Percat will campaign, decorated in the same Coates Hire colours that have been part of his previous Dunlop Series and Porsche Carrera Cup tilts.

“It looks awesome, in the Coates Hire orange and the chrome touches certainly make it stand out,” Percat said.

“It’s like an evolution of the colour scheme from my 2011 Dunlop Series car.

“This is the culmination of many years of hard work and to be driving in the full championship for Walkinshaw Racing is a dream come true. I’m also thrilled to have Coates Hire continue their long association with me.

“There is no doubt this is the biggest challenge I’ve faced in my career and I can’t wait to get onto the track.”