Nick Percat aiming for Gold on the Coast

Nick Percat’s debut Porsche Carrera Cup season can be best described as sensational.

Percat and the Coates Hire Porsche are heading to the confines of the concrete lined Gold Coast street circuit for the last round of the Porsche Carrera Cup this weekend with one aim; to secure a round win and a strong championship finish.

Before heading to the Gold Coast Percat said: “This weekend I am totally focused on a round win. I am very proud of my four pole positions and race wins, but it’s a round win I’m after. The Coates Hire Porsche should be good fun around the Gold Coast track. I love street circuits and this is one of the most demanding of all. You can’t afford to slip up one millimetre”.

Percat’s near perfect season started at the season opener, the Clipsal 500 meeting in Adelaide. Percat stunned his rivals with a maiden pole position on debut and went on to finish second twice and third in the three races to open his championship account third behind the experienced Steven Richards and the reigning Carrera Cup champion Craig Baird.

Round two of the championship was held at the Australian Grand Prix and Percat continued his stellar form, once again scoring pole position and finishing second and third in the first two races before having to retire early in the third race, with a mechanical gremlin.

The third round was held at Sydney Motorsport Park and the uniquetwo-driver mini enduro races of the Rennsport event. Percat teamed with seasoned Porsche racer Rodney Jane and the pair triumphed in the first race, giving Jane his first win in the category from 150 starts. Eighth in the second race gave Percat third overall for the round and third in the championship.

Townsville was the next stop on the calendar, another street circuit and one of Percat’s favourites. Once again Percat sat the Coates Hire Porsche 911 GT3 on the front row alongside Baird and finished the round with two second places and a retirement after damaging the radiator in the third race.

A cold wet Winton circuit in rural Victoria greeted drivers and after scoring another pole position, Percat had a wild ride into the first turn and off the track after contact with Porsche supremo Craig Baird. Rejoining the track through a ditch saw the orange Coates Hire Porsche mimick a jet. Landing safely, Percat eventually finished eighth, however he recorded a third place in race two and a won the final race to close the points gap on championship leader Baird.

Bathurst was the venue for the next round of the Carrera Cup and Percat left the opposition in his wake, recording the fastest ever qualifying lap by a Porsche at the famous Mt Panorama circuit. In fact his time was good enough to give him the 13th grid spot for the 1,000 km V8 Supercars race the next day. Percat comfortably won the first race and finished third in the second, however in the run to the first turn on the opening lap of the third race Percat and Michael Patrizi clashed damaging Percat’s car and dropping him down the field. He recovered to finish eight but a round win in the prestigious series still eluded him.

Going into this final round of the championship, Percat is determined to add a round win to his impressive debut season in the Porsche Carrera Cup this weekend at the Armor All Gold Coast 600.


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