Previous Bathurst 1000 winner Nick Percat has confirmed his retirement from full-time Repco Supercars Championship competition.
Percat has been another Supercars veteran to have questions asked about his future despite signing a three-year deal with Matt Stone Racing last season.
The speculation has ended after Percat announced his full-time retirement, which is currently in its 12th season.
Debuting as an endurance driver with Walkinshaw Racing in 2010 as a fill-in for Ryan Briscoe, Percat won Bathurst alongside Garth Tander the next year on debut.
Receiving his full-time chance with Walkinshaw Racing in 2014 under a REC owned by South Australian patron James Rosenberg, Percat finished a best of second at Sydney Motorsport Park and third at Bathurst own the way to 12th in the title.
A two-year stint at Lucas Dumbrell Racing delivered a surprise victory in his hometown of Adelaide before Percat became the team leader at Brad Jones Racing.
An unsuccessful return to Walkinshaw Andretti United nearly led to Percat retiring before continuing with Matt Stone Racing of which he is in his second season.
Percat has stepped away to focus on his burgeoning JND Racing kart team.
“It was definitely not an easy decision because I’m still very competitive. I feel like I’m driving well and have got trophies this year,” said Percat.
“So it has been quite a lengthy decision, but on the flip side, when one door closes, another opens.
“There was probably opportunity to stay on the grid but it’s about making sure you put yourself in the right place at the right time, so for me, now was a good time. We have got a lot going on with the JND kart team which is keeping us quite busy.
“When there was a decision to be made, I was actually at Ipswich Kart Club watching the kids drive around and I realised how much I do enjoy giving back to the sport and how much I enjoy watching the kids progress and learn and grow.
“So I was like, you know what, life after Supercars is still very cool, so that made it a lot easier.
“We’ll fire up the JND stuff a bit bigger and hopefully I’ll be able to get myself a nice co-drive and keep putting in good drives for whoever it is I might be driving alongside and try to get some big wins in the future.”
Percat retires from full-tome driving after achieving six victories, 18 podiums and one pole position.