Masterful MSR shoots Percat to glory

A lightning pit stop has fired Nick Percat and Matt Stone Racing to a second sensational Supercars triumph of 2024 in the Tasmania SuperSprint opener.

Smart strategy changing just two tyres enabled Percat to overcut his rivals in the stop cycle, jumping from third to first and take the chequered flag just 0.6s ahead of a fast-finishing Chaz Mostert.

Despite both Broc Feeney and Cameron Waters controlling the field in the opening stint with Percat settling in third, MSR had an ace up its sleeve.

As the leading duo battled in traffic, Percat pressed on and perfectly executed the overcut.

With a rapid 3.8s two-tyre change being a second better than what both Triple Eight and Tickford could manage changing three wheels, the MSR Camaro emerged in front.

Percat then controlled the second half of the race as a flying Mostert on four tyres picked off both third placed Feeney and fourth placed Waters.

The WAU driver did his best to reel in Percat, but could not quite get close enough to challenge his former teammate and deny MSR a stunning surprise success.

Championship leader Will Brown made an important charge from 15th to seventh, but could no stop his advantage being slashed from 105 to 63 points.

PUTTING THE FOOT DOWN

It was an even start across the front row and Feeney managed to sneak ahead of Waters despite the pair making contact in the run to one.

Amid a lockup, Percat snatched third from Kostecki as Mostert and Hill completed the top six, while Payne was spun by Davison at the end of the back straight.

As the pack settled down Feeney and Waters shared fastest laps as the gap hovered around half a second with Percat a further second adrift.

Brown was unable to make any ground from 15th early on, but on Lap 7 he made his first move with a big lunge on Aaron Love at the hairpin.

The BRT rookie, who was on track for a PB result, was then bullied by the pack and found himself last a lap later after skating down the pit straight through the grass.

The hairpin proved to be Brown’s target of choice as he started to creep closer to the top 10 as behind him a bunch of Mustangs were fighting hard with Anton De Pasquale the big loser.

The first to pit was Ryan Wood as early as Lap 17 and was followed by Le Brocq and the PremiAir pair.

As the pit cycles continued, they began to impact the leaders with Stanaway in the path of Feeney.

With the #88 stuck behind the #26, it ensured Waters was able to be on the Red Bull’s tail at the back end of their stint.

LIGHTNING IN THE LANE

As Jack Le Brocq and Richie Stanaway battled side by side, slowing Feeney, Tickford sensed its chance and pounced, stopping Waters on Lap 27.

Triple Eight responded a lap later and the crew delivered under pressure with the #88 emerging seven tenths ahead and beating the undercut.

WAU also brought Mostert into the lane on the same lap and were the first to change three tyres, rather than rears only like the leaders.

However, both Triple Eight and Tickford were outfoxed by MSR, which kept Percat out two laps later and it paid dividends.

A rapid 3.8s tyre change meant Percat found himself in the lead with Triple Eight and Tickford only managing 5.2s and 4.7s respectively, but under immense pressure with Feeney on his bumper.

Brown waited until Lap 31 to pit and took four tyres and rejoined 15th, only to have a moment at the hairpin on cold tyres, locking up and grazing the rear of James Courtney.

DASH TO THE FINISH

Although Feeney swiftly caught Percat, he was unable to make a move on the MSR driver, who responded on fresher tyres and pulled a second clear with 20 laps remaining.

The top three soon spread out which saw Waters drop out of victory contention and get pulled into the clutches of Mostert.

On Lap 41 the WAU driver caught and passed his former teammate at Turn 7 to jump into the top three.

Further back Brown was also making good use of his fresher rubber, setting the fastest lap of the race on his way to surging into the top 10.

But critically last-placed Payne snatched the fastest lap honours from Brown on Lap 46.

Mark Winterbottom and James Golding were in a fierce fight for 12th, making contact twice coming out of the hairpin.

Whilst Percat appeared in control, the race was far from over in the final 10 laps.

Not only had Feeney trimmed the deficit to six tenths, Mostert was on fire and quickly caught the #88, setting up a three-horse finish.

Mostert waited until Lap 50 to attack Feeney on the back straight. The WAU driver initially tried to get the overlap coming out of the hairpin, but could not hang there on the outside.

However, the #25 had supreme speed and powered past by the time they arrived at Turn 7.

Their battle enabled Percat to suddenly double his advantage, which was now beyond a second again to be back in the box seat.

It proved to be decisive as Mostert hunted him down, but was not quite close enough to launch an attack before the chequered flag.

MSR has shown pace in Tasmania in the past and not quite capitalised, but on this occasion both team and driver nailed it.

Image: DMAC Photography

Supercars Tasmania SuperSprint Race 17 results

Tasmania SuperSprint schedule

Practice 1: 1: D. Reynolds 51.1376 2: J. Golding +0.1061 3: J. Le Brocq +0.1628

Practice 2: 1: R. Stanaway 54.4551 2: C. Waters +0.0520 3: C. Mostert +0.0716

Qualifying: 1: B. Feeney 50.9884 2: C. Waters +0.0820 3: B. Kostecki +0.0873

Race 17: Sat 16.10 (55 laps)

Practice 3: Sun 10.20-10.40

Qualifying: Sun 12.40-13.30

Race 18: Sun 15.05 (55 laps)

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