Supercars driver Nick Percat defies race misconduct warning ahead of Adelaide final
Nick Percat has defiantly rejected warnings about record fines for driver misconduct, declaring officials can “take my licence” if he clashes with championship contenders.
Nick Percat has hit back at the threat of record penalties for drivers for any misconduct in the Adelaide grand final this weekend, saying if he clashes with a contender in the championship hunt “that’s racing”.
Ahead of his final race as a full-time driver before he transitions to a co-driving role at Triple Eight next year, Percat said if he was to cop a big fine officials could “take my licence”.
It emerged last week drivers were warned ahead of the final race at the Sandown semi-final about the potential for major penalties for misconduct or race manipulation in the finals.
Drivers were reminded in a group WhatsApp message from motorsport officials they could face a fine of up to $444,000 or potential race bans for deliberate misconduct.
Only four drivers remain in the championship hunt in Adelaide – Broc Feeney, Chaz Mostert, Will Brown and Kai Allen – with Chevrolet and Ford each having two cars still in the title mix.
Asked for his thoughts on the penalty warning, Bathurst 1000 winner Percat said he planned to race hard regardless of who he was up against or if they were in the title frame or not.
“If I happen to go up the inside of someone who is in the championship hunt and we crash, that’s motorsport, that’s racing,” Percat said.
“And to be honest if I end up with a big fine like that, you’ll probably never see me again because the only way you’ll pay it is if you race again.
“Take my licence.”
Fellow Bathurst winner David Reynolds also quipped he would not be tiptoeing around the title contenders on track in the title-decider.
“To be frank, we’re not in it and my teammate is not in it,” Reynolds said.
“And frankly I could not care who’s in it, if I’m not in it, stuff the rest, that’s what I think.”
Percat’s stance on the penalty warning came as he said it was time for the next generation of Supercars drivers to “step up” and show their off-track personality as the series prepares to farewell another one of its big characters.
“I have always said I would love to see the personalities of all the drivers come out because we all know what we’re like when we hang out when we’re outside of the sport,” Percat said.
“You just wish that a lot of people could probably let their hair down a bit and be what they truly are because I think they would have a bigger response from the fans.
“Everybody in the pit lane is a very cool character and they’ve got their story and I think it is going to be interesting to see who kind of steps up.
“Chaz has kind of been the next Lowndesy, the smiling assassin and that kind of thing. But you’ve got JC (James Courtney) leaving who is a massive character.
“So, I think the majority of the field needs to step up and keep the sport well and truly healthy with the characters that are behind the helmets and behind the wheel.”
Percat, who has spent the past two seasons at Matt Stone Racing, will join the powerhouse Triple Eight squad as a co-driver alongside Feeney from next year.
The Adelaide-born veteran said he was looking forward to signing off as a full-time driver in front of his home crowd.
“I always dreamed of racing at the Adelaide 500, so I feel like I’ve had a pretty cool career and then I’ve been lucky enough to win the event,” said Percat, who will race with his old number 222 on his car in Adelaide.
“Now there’s 50 grand up on Friday, I’m obviously going to try way harder …. it would be a cool way to finish off my career in front of my home crowd, so I’m looking forward to it.
“I think come Sunday morning when you wake up and realise it is the last time I will qualify in the main game in a Supercar around here because that is a really fun session, it’s the last chance to get into the top 10 shootout, it will be interesting.
“All my mates are flying in for it on Sunday as well, so we’re going to have a cool posse here of my friends and it will probably be a little bit sad, but once you’re in the car it will be on.”
Originally published as Supercars driver Nick Percat defies race misconduct warning ahead of Adelaide final
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