Walkinshaw Racing driver Nick Percat has unveiled a new livery ahead of his first start in a V8 Supercar around the country’s smallest track in Tasmania.
Percat ventures into the Tyrepower Tasmania 400 at Symmons Plains, his #222 Commodore has switched from Coates Hire colours to Heavy Haulage Australia hues.
The switch is part of a sponsorship co-operative between the two companies with Coates Hire, a supporter of Percat since 2011, continuing to carry logos on the Holden.
The second round of the V8 Supercars Championship, the Tyrepower Tasmania 400 includes two 42-lap races on Saturday and a single 84-lap race on the Sunday, at the 2.4 kilometre track.
Percat was on target for a possible podium deep into the 76-lap Sunday race at the Clipsal before he smacked the wall at turn 8 in Adelaide forcing his retirement five laps from the end.
He is confident of running strongly at Symmons Plains, although he faces a steep learning curve at the 2.4km circuit.
“I’ve been there in a Formula Ford in 2009 and had a lot of success there,” Percat told Speedcafe.com
“I like the fact that it’s a short track and you have to get every corner perfect otherwise you want to.
“For me its a matter of getting my head around it as quickly as possible and steal as much info of Garth (Tander) and the others as I can.
“Then go into qualifying and nail that one perfect lap which is tricky in qualifying.
“Clipsal was nearly the fairytale result for me but one small mistake ruins the result.”
Percat admits that the main game is a steep rise for a rookie searching for immediate front-of-field results.
“The main series is a lot bigger step up than people imagine,” Percat said.
“It’s like you are racing for the championship every single lap of the race.”
At Symmons Plains last year Jason Bright’s win in the middle race was book-ended by his Brad Jones Racing team-mate Fabian Coulthard’s dual wins.
VIDEO: HHA livery unveiled