Walkinshaw Racing young gun Nick Percat is confident of reversing his tough run on soft tyres at this weekend’s Coates Hire Ipswich 400.
Percat, 25, ended the third 20 minute practice session third fastest behind Scott McLaughlin and Chaz Mostert.
The driver of the #222 HHA Coates Hire Commodore admits that he has found it difficult coming to grips with the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx Sprint tyre.
Percat is enjoying his first full season in the main game; the first time he has been exposed to the soft tyre on a regular basis.
The softer rubber is being used for all sessions at this weekend’s event.
“So far the day’s gone extremely well for us,” Percat said.
“On the soft tyre I’ve struggled on all year. It’s been the worst results I’ve had on the soft tyres.
“So for my car to be up the front on the soft tyre is awesome.”
Percat said he has been schooled on the best methods to extract optimum pace from the soft tyres.
“My engineer Alex Somerset has been coaching me through it in every session,” he said.
“He’s just trying to help me understand the soft tyre a bit better because its been so long on the hard tyre in the Dunlop Series.
“My whole crew are really young.
“All my mechanics are younger than me and Alex is the oldest guy we’ve got on our side and he keeps us all under control.”
Walkinshaw Racing continues its aggressive development program this season under the watch of ex-Triple Eight team manager Adrian Burgess.
CLICK HERE for this morning’s update on the team’s progress