Supercars champ visits local manufacturer

MORE than four hundred community members have gathered at Bendix’s Delacombe factory to tour the site and meet Bendix Racing Supercars driver Nick Percat.

The event, held last Wednesday, included kids’ activities, a barbecue dinner, a question-and-answer session with Percat, co-driver Dylan O’Keeffe and Matt Stone from Matt Stone Racing, and raffles and door prizes.

Bendix is a friction material and brake component manufacturer, the only of its kind left in Australia.

CEO George Kyriakopoulos said the evening was an opportunity to show the community what the company brings to Ballarat.

“For us, Bendix is very much part of the fabric of Ballarat,” he said.

“We said right from the start they we wanted to participate in motor sport, we didn’t just want to be sponsors, so this is our way or bringing the car to the community.

“It’s a way of sharing our experience with the Bendix Racing team.”

Percat, who had a desire to become a Supercar driver since he was a child, said he hoped the event might inspire young people to follow their passion.

“Hopefully there’s some young kids who want to be racing car drivers because that’s how it started for me,” he said.

“For me, it’s always about the younger generation and sparking the dream to become a racing car driver, or a mechanic in a racing team, or an engineer.

“That’s where it’s pretty special.”

Mr Kyriakopoulos said it’s important to showcase Australian manufacturers despite declining numbers. “We are genuine Australian manufacturers and for us to be able to showcase our factory, it’s a proud moment,” he said.

“It’s becoming a rarer phenomenon to be able to make product, anything for the automotive world, but here we are, we’ve opened our doors.

“It’s hopefully something we can make even greater next year.”