It was a solid first Supercar test for Matt Stone Racing at Queensland Raceway today, kicking off the 2024 season for real.
The MSR crew were at the Ipswich circuit for a Rookie Test Day with Car #4, which saw both Cameron Hill and Nick Percat dust off the cobwebs.
It marked Hill’s first run with his new racing number on the side window, Car #4, which makes its return to the Stone family fold this season, as an acknowledgement of 20-years since the dominant Stone Brothers Racing era in Supercars.
The day also marked Percat’s first drive of a Chevrolet Racing Camaro Supercar, with Nick permitted to do a maximum of 10 laps in Car #4, as per Supercars’ Rookie Test Day regulations.
While Cam is in his second full season in the Supercars Championship, the rulebook still entitles a driver in their second season the rookie complement of three extra test days on top of the standard three.
The MSR team took the opportunity to use one of those Rookie Test Day allocations of Car #4 to become the first Supercars team to officially “test” in 2024 (other teams have technically used a “shakedown” day for their new chassis, and not collected data over a full day of running).
Both Car #4 and Car #10 of Nick Percat will be back out at Queensland Raceway on Monday, February 5 for the official pre-season test day for all Queensland-based Supercars teams.
Cameron Hill – Driver of #4:
“Good to get our first test day in for 2024. It was a really good opportunity to see how the car will feel this year with the aero changes that have been made over the off season. We ticked a few boxes on our programme so we can start Monday’s test day on the front foot. The car looks tough in all black, but I can’t wait for everyone to see the new livery when the covers come off at our livery launch day.”
Nick Percat – Driver of #10:
“Ten laps went fast! It was as cool to be back in a Supercar. You always forget over Christmas how quick they are and how cool they are. It was amazing to be back in the GM product – the family will be happy – so it was a good day. It was good to get a little bit of a feel ahead of our test day next week in my own car and keep working with the team ahead of Round 1.”
