Nick Percat has added to his stellar 2010 season with his selection to drive in the first Endurance race at Phillip Island for Bundaberg Red Racing.Bundy Red Racing recently announced its driver pairings for this year's L&H 500 at Phillip Island, which on the back of Toll HRT's announcement last Friday, finalises Walkinshaw Racing's 2010 enduro line-up.
Fabian Coulthard will be joined by fellow Kiwi, and experienced enduro specialist,Craig Baird while rising star, Nick Percat, will get his first start in the V8Supercar main series pairing with Andrew Thompson in the #10 Bundy Red Racing Commodore.
In car #10 for the Bundaberg Red Racing camp, the youthful combination of Andrew Thompson and Nick Percat is likely to create an exciting partnership.
Thompson was enthusiastic about the Percat partnership with the 22 year old looking at re-gaining some much needed confidence from the forth coming enduro events attracks where he has had solid results in the past.
"There has been no-one more disappointed than me with our results to date, however,there are still a lot of races to run and I am confident we can have a better finish to the year," Thompson said.
"Nick and I are great friends away from the track and we get along incredibly well so I think that has got to work in our favour," he said.
"We have been training really hard over these last few weeks and we have been consciously focusing on developing that relationship. I am optimistic about our chances."
At only 21 years of age, South Australian born Percat already has a glowing CV. He finished runner up in the 2008 Formula Ford Championship. He then went on to win the Championship the following year, and not only did he take home the silverware but he also surpassed Steven Richards in winning the most races in the categories history (22).
The fast young gun is currently sitting third in the Fujitsu Series Championship and is thrilled to be partnering Thompson in the Phillip Island enduro in a week'stime.
"This is a fantastic break for me and I am grateful to Walkinshaw Racing for the opportunity, Andrew and I are almost identical in size so it is a great fit!"Percat said.
"I have been fortunate enough to have had a solid relationship with Walkinshaw Racing since 2007 and to get the call up for Phillip Island is an honour."
"I sat down with Craig Wilson and discussed my options for this year and partnering with Andrew Thompson was an opportunity I had hoped would become a reality."
"We are only a very young combination and we are competing against guys with a lotmore experience but I think we have the potential to put together a strong result" he said.
In addition to confirming its driver line-up, Bundaberg Red Racing also unveiled astriking new black livery that will debut at the Phillip Island event. The #10 and #24 Bundy Red Racing Commodores will run the livery for the rest of the 2010 season.
Bundy fans were given a taste of the "Make your Smooth" campaign at the Hidden Valley and Townsville events with both Commodores running a new bonnet and roof design before a sharper and more distinctive livery was revealed today.
The new livery is an evolution of the Bundaberg Rum label and reflects the company's new brand legacy which drives a sense of industrial masculinity.
The livery features a predominantly black paint scheme and the new Bundy R Bear who stands taller and prouder on the side of Coulthard and Thompson's cars.
There-branding exercise has been rolled out across all of Bundaberg Rum's brandsand has now extended to their race team.
"We're excited about having the experienced Craig Baird within the team, as well as being able to give an up-and-comer like Nick Percat a chance in the enduros,"Bundaberg Rum Marketing Manager Matt Bruhn said.
"Welove the new livery and hope it will encourage the team towards some great results in the back half of the season," he said.
Thenew Bundy Red Racing Commodores as well as the team's four drivers completed atest day at Winton Motor Raceway last week, and are well prepared for thePhillip Island event on September 10 - 12.
