Nick Percat firmly believes Brad Jones Racing will provide his best opportunity to prove himself in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.
The 28-year-old is set to begin a new chapter of his Supercars career following a switch to Brad Jones Racing after two challenging years at minnow squad Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport.
Percat has been unable to consistently show his worth in the main game since his first full season in 2014, which yielded 12th in the standings, his highest championship finish to date.
The 2011 Bathurst 1000 winner has shown glimpses of his potential, none more so than when he claimed a maiden solo Supercars race win in treacherous conditions at last year’s Clipsal 500, followed later in the year with and a commendable third at Mount Panorama.
Grateful for the lifeline offered by LDM after his Walkinshaw drive evaporated when James Rosenberg handed back his REC at the end 2014, Percat says BJR will enable him flourish this season.
Although yet to drive the BJR Commodore, the South Australian has been impressed by the Albury operation’s resources from his weekly visits to the workshop.
“Even in 2014 we were really competitive with podiums and a start on the front row, but this is my best opportunity to prove what I can do in a Supercar,” Percat, who finished 22nd in the standings last year, told Speedcafe.com.
“Everyone obviously talks up a big game in pre-season but for me I wanted to be at BJR.
“I had other things on the table but my priority was to be at BJR because they will give me the best opportunity.
“It is not just the cars, it is the people who run the team.
“I’ve been seriously impressed by the way BJR go about things.
“The level of preparation of the cars is extremely good and the machine shop is very methodical and very impressive.
“The guys are building, designing and making some really good parts. There have been some simple things in the car that have raised my eyebrows because they are really smart components.
“I just cannot wait to really start a new chapter in my life and career.”
Percat will complete his first laps for BJR at Tuesday’s official tyre test held at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Having witnessed the team quickly adapt to new regulation changes in the past, he is hopeful the outfit will have no trouble understanding the new Dunlop tyres.
“I hope the new tyre is favourable towards BJR,” he added.
“The team always seems to come out firing after a new rule change and the team does seem to go well on a high grip track.
“If the new tyre does have more grip it should surely translate into something positive.”
As previously revealed, Percat will run a special one-off livery for his maiden competitive outing at the Clipsal 500, Adelaide from March 2-5.
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