Percat details stressful final lap with power steering failure
Supercars
1d
Nick Percat salvages podium after final lap power steering failure
Percat fended off DJR teammates Brodie Kostecki and Will Davison despite smoky ailment
2011 Bathurst winner believes he could've won without failure
Nick Percat has been left to wonder what could've been after a power steering failure saw a potential victory become an intense podium battle in Race 6 at the MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint.
Starting fourth, Percat got past Broc Feeney at the first Safety Car restart, and looked set to challenge eventual winner Will Brown for first before the Safety Car was called for the second time to retrieve Cooper Murray's stricken car.
It was during the second Safety Car period the Percat began to experience overheating issues whilst cruising at low speed, which especially impacted the power steering of the Bendix Camaro.
The power steering failed completely halfway around the final lap, with Percat forced to fend off Shell V-Power Racing teammates Brodie Kostecki and Will Davison with smoke billowing from the #10 Chevrolet.
Having followed home teammate Cameron Hill in Matt Stone Racing's first-ever one-two finish yesterday, Percat was disappointed to let what he believed was a potential race win go to focus on securing a podium.
"I knew I had really good speed literally on the first lap, you know around here, it's such a car balance circuit, that's why I had such a big crack at Broc straight away and I was like 'I'm going to get Will at the same spot,'" said Percat.
"I was stronger than both of them in that same spot, the exit to the last corner, so the grand plan was good, and then we had the Safety Car and the temps got hot, and I was trying to keep the temp out of it.
"It happens, we had to go down to 60kph to keep the show going, which is awesome, but I was hunting for clear air, and it was a little bit intermittent after that, that's why I didn't fight Broc and I was like, 'Just go around me I need fresh air.'
"Then on the last lap she went kaboom, no power steering, and thankfully Brodie raced me real cleanly, I had my knees up on the wheel so I could get in there and turn the thing. I was thinking please make it to the finish, and I didn't expect to over-under him to be honest, that was quite fun. I used him as a bit of a berm at the last corner to turn, so it was fun.
"Thankfully it survived as long as it did, I've had enough little power steering issues in my time to recognise if it's going to go it's probably going to be in the high-speed, so I was always ready for it through there.
"It still caught me out. When it went I was like, 'Holy hell this is heavy now,' and I'm doing 240kph, so it was interesting."
Kostecki got by Percat twice in the final half of the lap, however the 2011 Bathurst 1000 winner fought back both times, including banging doors with Kostecki at the final corner to head home Davison, with Kostecki fifth.
However, it very nearly ended in disaster for Percat, who his power steering fail at the high-commitment Turn 7 leading onto the back half of the final lap, with some quick improvisation from the 36-year-old preventing more damage being inflicted.
"It was through Turn 7, so where we've seen cars brushing against the wall on exit. I was very quick to have my knee up, and thankfully the dead pedal in the MSR car is quite solid, so it helped me keep it turned," Percat added.
"It was that moment where I'm like, 'Do I roll out, what's going to happen here?' but then I'm like, 'You know what, five corners to go, we've got to get the elbows up.'
"I knew I had a big margin after Brodie and Davo, so I figured I'd back them up and see what I could do."
Percat's second podium in as many days sees him move to fourth in the Larry Perkins Trophy standings, whilst he has also vaulted into 10th in the championship standings.
The final race of the MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint begins at 10:25am tomorrow morning.
