1. Nine
  2. Sport
  3. Motorsport

Lucky Percat finishes race after car fire

Jul 7th, 2019Jul 7th, 2019

It was the one radio call Holden driver Nick Percat didn't expect as he looked at the smouldering rear end of his Commodore.

Get back in and finish Sunday's Supercars race in Townsville.

Moments before, Percat's car had been engulfed in flames after fuel was ignited by a spark as he was taking on petrol late in a drama-filled race at the Reid Park street circuit.

Percat had driven the car, with flames shooting out, to the end of pit lane where members of the DJR Team Penske and Red Bull Holden Racing Team used extinguishers to put out the blaze.

That's when Percat followed instructions and climbed back in to the driver's seat, eventually finishing the race in 19th position.

"That was interesting. When they told me to get back in, I was like 'wait, what are you talking about?'," the Brad Jones Racing driver told AAP.

"The only issue was the powder from the fire extinguishers so you can't breathe at all ... that wasn't ideal but at least it was only a lap and a half."

As dramatic as the fiery moment was, Percat and his pit crew were unharmed and they were thankful to rival team members helping to extinguish the blaze both outside and in Percat's garage.

"The priority is humans - we can replace all the parts in the car," the 2011 Bathurst 1000 winner said.

"I assume the car is alright ... I just got quite a hot arse for a second there and, yeah, it's a credit to everyone that helped out at this end of pit lane and the Penske and Triple Eight guys that helped me out down there."

Percat wasn't the only driver whose car burst into flames in a wet and wild race.

Nissan driver Garry Jacobson had to shut down his Altima on the track just before Percat's moment after it burst into flames due to an engine mishap, ruining his hopes of a top-10 finish.

"Just gutted for the guys because they really do stick behind me through thick and thin and it would've been good to give them the result they deserve," Jacobson told AAP.


More Motorsport News