WAU announce Nick Percat departure from team
Nick Percat is set to depart from Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) at the close of the 2023 Supercars season, marking the end of his second tenure with the team that transitioned from a factory Holden to a Ford Mustang outfit.
While it remains uncertain whether Percat will continue in Supercars with a different team in 2024, there are indications that Ryan Wood could potentially drive the #2 Mobil 1 NTI Ford Mustang in the upcoming season.
Percat hinted at his departure during live broadcast interviews at The Bend Motorsport Park, and the official confirmation from the Clayton-based team was released subsequently through a statement.
Expressing his sentiments, Percat stated, "My time with the WAU family has come to an end, and I wish we could have had the results we both wanted and expected. I have loved my time working alongside Chaz [Mostert], and it’s cool to say we will be lifelong friends."
Percat's history with Walkinshaw Racing dates back to Formula Ford in 2007, and he made his Supercars debut in a VE Commodore from the team at the 2010 Phillip Island 500. He achieved early success by winning the Bathurst 1000 as a rookie in 2011, partnering with Garth Tander in a Holden Racing Team entry.
He secured his own Supercars Championship seat in 2014 with the Walkinshaw Racing entry supported by the James Rosenberg Racing Entitlement Contract (REC). Following a two-year stint at Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport, Percat rejoined WAU in 2022 after his tenure at Brad Jones Racing.
A highlight during his second stint with WAU was the team's one-two finish on Saturday of the Adelaide 500, which held emotional significance as it marked the last main-event outing for the Holden brand, for which WAU had been the factory team from 1990 to 2016.
Presently, Percat is positioned 21st in the Supercars standings with 819 points, while his teammate Chaz Mostert has climbed to fifth place with 1582 points. Though Percat has faced challenges, including an engine bay fire during the Australian Grand Prix that prompted changes to the engine bay design of Gen3 Supercars, his noteworthy results have been sporadic. Race 22 at The Bend saw him secure a fourth-place finish, which marked his best result since his second-place finish at Adelaide last year.
Ryan Walkinshaw, team co-owner, expressed gratitude to Percat for his contributions to the team over the years and acknowledged their collective hopes for better achievements. With four rounds remaining in the season, including iconic events like the Bathurst 1000, Sandown 500, and Adelaide 500, the team aims to conclude Percat's tenure on a high note.
