The MSR deal is a lifeline for Percat who has battled by way of a tricky season and a half with Walkinshaw Andretti United.
He was lengthy anticipated to half methods with the workforce on the finish of his present deal, which was not too long ago confirmed, and was recognized to be a part of a bunch of skilled drivers within the body for the MSR seat together with Scott Pye.
The 34-year-old has gained out within the battle for the MSR seat, which could possibly be the ultimate full-time emptiness on the grid subsequent season, ought to James Courtney and Aaron Love kind an expanded Blanchard Racing Team line-up as anticipated.
Percat has historical past of success at family-run groups, having picked up race wins at each LD Motorsport and Brad Jones Racing, the latter proving to be a very completely happy residence between 2017 and 2021.
The 2011 Bathurst 1000 winner will companion the not too long ago re-signed rookie Cam Hill at MSR subsequent season, taking up what has been a race-winning seat in Le Brocq’s arms this season.
“I’m actually excited to be becoming a member of MSR for the 2024 and 2025 Supercars seasons,” stated Percat, whose final of his 4 Supercars race wins got here in 2020.
“I actually like the best way Matt runs his workforce and the household really feel and tradition he’s bought occurring there. It solely took a couple of minutes to grasp I used to be eager to hitch the workforce after I met with him on the workshop and noticed the workforce for myself.
“It’s actually Positive and I can’t wait, but additionally for me personally, it’s cool to be again aligned with the GM household. Clearly it’s an enormous a part of my household’s historical past and my love of street vehicles began due to Holden, so it’s very cool to be driving again underneath that banner.
Nick Percat, Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang GT
Photograph by: Edge Photographics
“The outcomes that MSR has achieved with the brand new Gen3 automotive have been tremendous spectacular. I can undoubtedly see why and the way they’re so sturdy now that I’ve bought to know Matt and some guys a bit higher.
“I’m trying ahead to persevering with that, and the workforce itself is in a very good place to kick some targets over the subsequent few years. Hopefully I’m an enormous a part of that and can assist with a little bit of expertise and we will maintain pushing in the direction of the entrance.
“Matt’s assembled an ideal group of men and women there that may get the job executed. I can’t wait to be part of a brand new workforce and drive a brand new automotive for the upcoming seasons.”
For workforce proprietor Matt Stone, signing Percat makes good on the promise to interchange Erebus-bound Le Brocq with a confirmed race winner.
“We’re thrilled to have Nick becoming a member of the workforce on a multi-year deal,” Stone stated.
“Once we have been searching for a driver to fill our accessible seat for 2024, we have been searching for somebody with confirmed race-winning expertise. It’s thrilling to signal a driver that has not solely achieved race wins a number of instances, but additionally gained Bathurst and had such sturdy constant championship leads to his time at BJR.
“The Bathurst 1000 is a transparent objective on the highest of MSR’s checklist. After our maiden race win earlier this 12 months in Darwin, having somebody like Nick within the workforce subsequent 12 months, is one other massive step up for the workforce.
“I sit up for the outcomes that we will unlock with Nick, and along with teammate Cameron Hill will probably be a powerful mixture over the subsequent two seasons.”
Percat does not remorse WAU stint
Nick Percat, Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang GT
Photograph by: Edge Photographics
Percat says he holds no regrets over his quick, and principally unsuccessful, stint at Walkinshaw Andretti United.
Percat joined the workforce on the finish of 2021, strolling out on a contract with Brad Jones Racing to companion Chaz Mostert. It was all the time regarded as a courageous transfer, given he can be up towards the highly effective combo of Mostert and engineer Adam DeBorre, however few would have predicted simply how a lot Percat would wrestle.
Qualifying has been a selected battle for Percat throughout his time at WAU with various completely different race engineers, and even the change from Gen2 to Gen3, not offering an everyday repair to his woes. He will probably be changed within the #2 WAU entry by rookie Ryan Wooden in 2023.
Along with his MSR deal now secured, Percat makes no secret of the truth that his WAU stint has fell wanting expectations.
“There’s completely no doubting, or nowhere to cover, on that,” he informed Autosport. “I would not say the final two years have been nice.
Nonetheless on the identical time he’s adamant that he does not remorse having made the transfer when he did.
“I have been requested if I’ve regretted the choice to go to WAU, however there may be undoubtedly none of that. All the pieces type of occurs for a motive and the playing cards simply did not fall the proper method with the timings of issues at WAU.
“However I am undoubtedly eager to get caught in and make this [MSR deal] work.”