Percat launches racing team

Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Bathurst 1000 winner Nick Percat has announced an expansion of his relationship with FA Kart that will include fielding a factory team in the Australian Karting Championship.

The Mobil1 NTI Ford Mustang driver will take his current partnership with FA Kart to new levels thanks to a landmark deal that includes a factory team and dealer rights in Victoria.

The new factory-backed team will begin competing in the AKC from next year onwards with plans to field up to 10 drivers across the junior classes.

There will also be a group of senior drivers aiming to win titles while also providing invaluable feedback to the younger drivers.

Percat says driver development will be a keen focus for the team.

“I've always wanted to have a karting team. Since I was 15 years old. That was always the plan for me and my dad if the driving side didn't work out.

“The plan is to run a proper team from next year onwards. I'm in the middle of gearing up now so we can start testing drivers in December ahead of the championship next year.

“I think I can offer a lot of advice to young drivers wanting to become a professional racing car driver. I enjoy watching young drivers come through karting and seeing their first day in a Formula Ford. So there are different elements to why I'm doing this.

“The structure I have is that I can run a kart team, but I also own a very good Formula Ford that the right driver could use for their first test before they are passed on to a Formula Ford team like Sonic. 

“Dad and I also own a Carrera Cup car which could give a young driver their first taste of a tin top. So there are a few elements to what I'm trying to do.

“It's not about coming and driving for me, me taking your money, and that's it. It's about me being able to help develop young drivers through what I know and the people I have around me…

The driver who comes to drive for me gets access to all of that as well.

“I want 10 good young drivers that have the dream of trying to get to Supercars or IndyCar or whatever it is. The younger that starts the better, so I want to have a few kids in the cadet classes and then into juniors, as the early teenage years are massively important. 

“And I still want to have two or three good senior drivers who can help with the craft of karting, who are on top of their game and capable of winning the national championship. They can then offer support back to the cadets and juniors. That's the dream and that's the plan.”

Percat will be back on track at next weekend’s NTI Townsville 500. Tickets are available through Ticketek.