HE'S already driven the equivalent of 22 Bathurst 1000s this year just to get to Supercars events, but Nick Percat is still expecting to be pushed to his physical limits at Mount Panorama on Sunday.
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Like his rivals on the grid, the Brad Jones Racing star has endured a testing season impacted by COVID-19.
But he has seen the positives in some of the adjustments he has been forced to make, including a different mode of transport to races.
"Normally you'd get on a plane and just fly to an event, but for me, I've done 22,000-odd kilometres driving to each event with Nelson my dog and I had Macauley [Jones] along for a bit of it," he said.
"It's been quite relaxing seeing more of the country and meeting a heap of people along the way, I've found it less stressful."
Since contesting the penultimate round at The Bend, Percat has spent time at his home base in Adelaide, driven to Albury to join his BJR team-mates then made his way to Bathurst.
But he has also prepared himself as best as he could be the challenge which lies in wait at Mount Panorama.
"It's funny, we are normally conditioned because we've had all the long races which are held at events through the year. But having had sprint races, there will definitely be some tired bodies out there come the last stint at Bathurst," he said.
"So for me, all my training has been upped, I've lost count of how many kays I've done in the pool, I've done a lot of longer swims and endurance stuff. I've been out on the bike doing a lot of stuff in the hills, a lot of climbing and tough rides.
"I'm feeling good coming into it, but you don't know until that last stint. It's been well documented that last stint is really hard, you saw [David] Reynolds a couple of years ago have it taken from his hands due to his own issues, so it's something you can't shy away from, you need to come into the race and make sure you are ready for it.
"I'm hoping I'm prepared, but it's a little bit unknown at the moment."
Opening practice for this year's event will commence at 9.30am on Thursday. The race itself gets the green light at 11.30am on Sunday.
